This map shows modeled outdoor noise across Guajome 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 2,423 Guajome residents, or 27.5%, live above that level. By land area, 37.4% of Guajome is above 55 dBA.
See how noise in Guajome compares to similar-sized neighborhoods.
Noise by Part of Guajome
Average noise levels for Guajome residents, grouped by direction from the center of Guajome. The highest population-weighted average is in northern Guajome; the lowest is in southern Guajome, where just 15% of residents live in blocks above the EPA's 55 dBA threshold, about two-thirds of the share in the loudest section.
Northern Guajome
23% of people above 55 dBA
Northwestern Guajome
44% of people above 55 dBA
Southeastern Guajome
29% of people above 55 dBA
Central Guajome
15% of people above 55 dBA
Southern Guajome
15% of people above 55 dBA
To the human ear, noise in northern Guajome sounds about 107% louder than in southern Guajome, a 10.5 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 do you need to be?
produces an estimated 79 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 9% of Guajome sits under tree canopy (lighter than most neighborhoods) and roughly 36% 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.