This map shows modeled outdoor noise across El Rio at 100-meter resolution, combining road, aviation, and rail sources. Green areas measure below 45 dBA. Orange and red exceed the EPA's 55 dBA outdoor threshold linked to long-term health effects. Use the layer toggles to view each source on its own or all together.
What the numbers sound like
- 30 dBAWhisper
- 40 dBASoft rainfall
- 45 dBAQuiet suburban street at night
- 50 dBAQuiet office
- 55 dBAEPA outdoor threshold: light traffic 100 ft away
- 60 dBANormal conversation an arm's length away
- 65 dBABusy restaurant
- 70 dBAHighway traffic 50 ft away
- 80 dBACity bus interior
Population Above the EPA Outdoor Threshold
The EPA's 55 dBA outdoor reference level is a common benchmark for residential noise exposure, especially for activity interference, annoyance, and long-term community noise concerns. About 2,583 El Rio residents, or 40.9%, live above that level. By land area, 33.9% of El Rio is above 55 dBA.
See how noise in El Rio compares to similar-sized neighborhoods.
Noise by Part of El Rio
Average noise levels for El Rio residents, grouped by direction from the center of El Rio. Western El Rio carries the highest population-weighted average; Northern El Rio carries the lowest. Just 10% of residents in Northern El Rio live in blocks above the EPA's 55 dBA threshold, a third of the share in Western El Rio.
Central El Rio
20% of people above 55 dBA
Eastern El Rio
29% of people above 55 dBA
Northern El Rio
10% of people above 55 dBA
Southern El Rio
98% of people above 55 dBA
Western El Rio
33% of people above 55 dBA
Western El Rio sounds about 162% louder than Northern El Rio to the human ear, a 13.9 dBA gap. Every 10 dBA roughly doubles perceived loudness. Within any of these directions, two homes a quarter mile apart can still differ by 10 or more dBA depending on how close they sit to a major highway.
How far back from Ventura Fwy do you need to be?
Ventura Fwy produces an estimated 76 dBA at its loudest centerline points. Noise drops logarithmically with distance, with the exact rate depending on what's between you and the road. Tree cover, walls, terrain, and pavement type all matter. At roughly a quarter mile back, traffic fades into the noise level of a soft rainfall.
Calculated from the model's calibrated attenuation formula. About 0% of El Rio sits under tree canopy (much lighter than most neighborhoods) and roughly 50% is impervious surface like pavement and rooftops. Both are folded into the per-place decay rate above. Heavier canopy pulls noise down faster with distance; impervious surfaces slow the drop.