This map shows modeled outdoor noise across Hardwick 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 282 Hardwick residents, or 16.8%, live above that level. By land area, 14.6% of Hardwick is above 55 dBA.
See how noise in Hardwick compares to similar-sized cities.
Noise by Part of Hardwick
Average noise levels for Hardwick residents, grouped by direction from the center of Hardwick. Western Hardwick carries the highest population-weighted average; Eastern Hardwick carries the lowest. Just 1% of residents in Eastern Hardwick live in blocks above the EPA's 55 dBA threshold, a fifth of the share in Western Hardwick.
Central Hardwick
15% of people above 55 dBA
Eastern Hardwick
1% of people above 55 dBA
Northern Hardwick
10% of people above 55 dBA
Southern Hardwick
1% of people above 55 dBA
Western Hardwick
36% of people above 55 dBA
Western Hardwick sounds about 84% louder than Eastern Hardwick to the human ear, a 8.8 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 Th-3 do you need to be?
Th-3 produces an estimated 54 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 55% of Hardwick sits under tree canopy (heavier than most cities) and roughly 20% 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.