This map shows modeled outdoor noise across Greenwood Lake 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 754 Greenwood Lake residents, or 17.9%, live above that level. By land area, 19.0% of Greenwood Lake is above 55 dBA.
See how noise in Greenwood Lake compares to similar-sized cities.
Noise by Part of Greenwood Lake
Average noise levels for Greenwood Lake residents, grouped by direction from the center of Greenwood Lake. Central Greenwood Lake carries the highest population-weighted average; Eastern Greenwood Lake carries the lowest. Just 13% of residents in Eastern Greenwood Lake live in blocks above the EPA's 55 dBA threshold, three-quarters of the share in Central Greenwood Lake.
Central Greenwood Lake
18% of people above 55 dBA
Eastern Greenwood Lake
13% of people above 55 dBA
Northern Greenwood Lake
20% of people above 55 dBA
Southern Greenwood Lake
21% of people above 55 dBA
Western Greenwood Lake
20% of people above 55 dBA
Central Greenwood Lake sounds about 13% louder than Eastern Greenwood Lake to the human ear, a 1.8 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 East Shore Rd do you need to be?
East Shore Rd 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 57% of Greenwood Lake sits under tree canopy (heavier than most cities) and roughly 13% 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.