This map shows modeled outdoor noise across Horseshoe Bay 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 566 Horseshoe Bay residents, or 16.2%, live above that level. By land area, 18.5% of Horseshoe Bay is above 55 dBA.
See how noise in Horseshoe Bay compares to similar-sized cities.
Noise by Part of Horseshoe Bay
Average noise levels for Horseshoe Bay residents, grouped by direction from the center of Horseshoe Bay. Southern Horseshoe Bay carries the highest population-weighted average; Western Horseshoe Bay carries the lowest. Just 10% of residents in Western Horseshoe Bay live in blocks above the EPA's 55 dBA threshold, about half the share in Southern Horseshoe Bay.
Central Horseshoe Bay
10% of people above 55 dBA
Eastern Horseshoe Bay
25% of people above 55 dBA
Northern Horseshoe Bay
9% of people above 55 dBA
Southern Horseshoe Bay
26% of people above 55 dBA
Western Horseshoe Bay
10% of people above 55 dBA
Southern Horseshoe Bay sounds about 38% louder than Western Horseshoe Bay to the human ear, a 4.6 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 do you need to be?
produces an estimated 80 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 quiet suburban street at night.
Calculated from the model's calibrated attenuation formula. About 9% of Horseshoe Bay sits under tree canopy (lighter than most cities) and roughly 25% 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.