This map shows modeled outdoor noise across Exchange Place 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 2,032 Exchange Place residents, or 52.0%, live above that level. By land area, 53.9% of Exchange Place is above 55 dBA.
See how noise in Exchange Place compares to similar-sized neighborhoods.
Noise by Part of Exchange Place
Average noise levels for Exchange Place residents, grouped by direction from the center of Exchange Place. The highest population-weighted average is in southern Exchange Place; the lowest is in northern Exchange Place, where just 35% of residents live in blocks above the EPA's 55 dBA threshold, about half the share in the loudest section.
Southern Exchange Place
75% of people above 55 dBA
Central Exchange Place
47% of people above 55 dBA
Northwestern Exchange Place
44% of people above 55 dBA
Northern Exchange Place
35% of people above 55 dBA
To the human ear, noise in southern Exchange Place sounds about 83% louder than in northern Exchange Place, a 8.7 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 78 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 quiet suburban street at night.
Calculated from the model's calibrated attenuation formula. About 23% of Exchange Place sits under tree canopy (heavier than most neighborhoods) and roughly 62% 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.