This map shows modeled outdoor noise across Golden Gate 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 6,396 Golden Gate residents, or 28.1%, live above that level. By land area, 32.3% of Golden Gate is above 55 dBA.
See how noise in Golden Gate compares to similar-sized cities.
Noise by Part of Golden Gate
Average noise levels for Golden Gate residents, grouped by direction from the center of Golden Gate. Central Golden Gate carries the highest population-weighted average; Northern Golden Gate carries the lowest. Just 27% of residents in Northern Golden Gate live in blocks above the EPA's 55 dBA threshold, three-quarters of the share in Central Golden Gate.
Central Golden Gate
39% of people above 55 dBA
Eastern Golden Gate
24% of people above 55 dBA
Northern Golden Gate
27% of people above 55 dBA
Southern Golden Gate
19% of people above 55 dBA
Western Golden Gate
37% of people above 55 dBA
Central Golden Gate sounds about 39% louder than Northern Golden Gate to the human ear, a 4.7 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 Cr 886/GOLDEN Gate do you need to be?
Cr 886/GOLDEN Gate produces an estimated 68 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 13% of Golden Gate sits under tree canopy (lighter than most cities) and roughly 38% 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.