This map shows modeled outdoor noise across Greeneville Historic District 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 1,170 Greeneville Historic District residents, or 27.9%, live above that level. By land area, 31.1% of Greeneville Historic District is above 55 dBA.
See how noise in Greeneville Historic District compares to similar-sized neighborhoods.
Noise by Part of Greeneville Historic District
Average noise levels for Greeneville Historic District residents, grouped by direction from the center of Greeneville Historic District. The highest population-weighted average is in southwestern Greeneville Historic District; the lowest is in northwestern Greeneville Historic District, where just 19% of residents live in blocks above the EPA's 55 dBA threshold, about two-thirds of the share in the loudest section.
Southwestern Greeneville Historic District
34% of people above 55 dBA
Western Greeneville Historic District
41% of people above 55 dBA
Southeastern Greeneville Historic District
22% of people above 55 dBA
Central Greeneville Historic District
24% of people above 55 dBA
Northwestern Greeneville Historic District
19% of people above 55 dBA
To the human ear, noise in southwestern Greeneville Historic District sounds about 27% louder than in northwestern Greeneville Historic District, a 3.5 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 Boswell Av do you need to be?
Boswell Av produces an estimated 56 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 45% of Greeneville Historic District sits under tree canopy (much heavier than most neighborhoods) and roughly 34% 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.