This map shows modeled outdoor noise across Highland 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 23,283 Highland residents, or 34.7%, live above that level. By land area, 40.4% of Highland is above 55 dBA.
See how noise in Highland compares to similar-sized cities.
Noise by Part of Highland
Average noise levels for Highland residents, grouped by direction from the center of Highland. Northern Highland carries the highest population-weighted average; Eastern Highland carries the lowest. Just 33% of residents in Eastern Highland live in blocks above the EPA's 55 dBA threshold, three-quarters of the share in Northern Highland.
Central Highland
58% of people above 55 dBA
Eastern Highland
33% of people above 55 dBA
Northern Highland
41% of people above 55 dBA
Southern Highland
41% of people above 55 dBA
Western Highland
30% of people above 55 dBA
Northern Highland sounds about 20% louder than Eastern Highland to the human ear, a 2.6 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 State Rte 210 do you need to be?
State Rte 210 produces an estimated 75 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 4% of Highland sits under tree canopy (much lighter than most cities) and roughly 43% 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.