This map shows modeled outdoor noise across Elton Hills 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 1,647 Elton Hills residents, or 53.0%, live above that level. By land area, 51.7% of Elton Hills is above 55 dBA.
See how noise in Elton Hills compares to similar-sized neighborhoods.
Noise by Part of Elton Hills
Average noise levels for Elton Hills residents, grouped by direction from the center of Elton Hills. The highest population-weighted average is in southwestern Elton Hills; the lowest is in northeastern Elton Hills, where just 36% of residents live in blocks above the EPA's 55 dBA threshold, about two-thirds of the share in the loudest section.
Southwestern Elton Hills
66% of people above 55 dBA
Western Elton Hills
51% of people above 55 dBA
Central Elton Hills
45% of people above 55 dBA
Eastern Elton Hills
35% of people above 55 dBA
Northeastern Elton Hills
36% of people above 55 dBA
To the human ear, noise in southwestern Elton Hills sounds about 60% louder than in northeastern Elton Hills, a 6.8 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 19TH St NW do you need to be?
19TH St NW produces an estimated 57 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 22% of Elton Hills sits under tree canopy (heavier than most neighborhoods) and roughly 46% 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.