This map shows modeled outdoor noise across Far Southside 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 342 Far Southside residents, or 7.8%, live above that level. By land area, 17.5% of Far Southside is above 55 dBA.
See how noise in Far Southside compares to similar-sized neighborhoods.
Noise by Part of Far Southside
Average noise levels for Far Southside residents, grouped by direction from the center of Far Southside. Southern Far Southside carries the highest population-weighted average; Central Far Southside carries the lowest. Just 5% of residents in Central Far Southside live in blocks above the EPA's 55 dBA threshold, a third of the share in Southern Far Southside.
Central Far Southside
5% of people above 55 dBA
Eastern Far Southside
4% of people above 55 dBA
Northern Far Southside
4% of people above 55 dBA
Southern Far Southside
20% of people above 55 dBA
Western Far Southside
9% of people above 55 dBA
Southern Far Southside sounds about 20% louder than Central Far Southside to the human ear, a 2.6 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 US Hwy 84 do you need to be?
US Hwy 84 produces an estimated 73 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 Far Southside sits under tree canopy (much lighter than most neighborhoods) and roughly 21% 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.