This map shows modeled outdoor noise across Essex County 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 871 Essex County residents, or 8.5%, live above that level. By land area, 17.4% of Essex County is above 55 dBA.
See how noise in Essex County compares to similar-sized counties.
Noise by Part of Essex County
Average noise levels for Essex County residents, grouped by direction from the center of Essex County. Eastern Essex County carries the highest population-weighted average; Western Essex County carries the lowest. Just 2% of residents in Western Essex County live in blocks above the EPA's 55 dBA threshold, a fifth of the share in Eastern Essex County.
Eastern Essex County
16% of people above 55 dBA
Northern Essex County
7% of people above 55 dBA
Southern Essex County
3% of people above 55 dBA
Western Essex County
2% of people above 55 dBA
Eastern Essex County sounds about 93% louder than Western Essex County to the human ear, a 9.5 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 do you need to be?
produces an estimated 72 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 57% of Essex County sits under tree canopy (much heavier than most counties) and roughly 6% 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.