This map shows modeled outdoor noise across Jamaica 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 17 Jamaica residents, or 2.2%, live above that level. By land area, 3.2% of Jamaica is above 55 dBA.
See how noise in Jamaica compares to similar-sized cities.
Noise by Part of Jamaica
Average noise levels for Jamaica residents, grouped by direction from the center of Jamaica. Central Jamaica carries the highest population-weighted average; Southern Jamaica carries the lowest. Just 0% of residents in Southern Jamaica live in blocks above the EPA's 55 dBA threshold, a fifth of the share in Central Jamaica.
Central Jamaica
5% of people above 55 dBA
Eastern Jamaica
3% of people above 55 dBA
Northern Jamaica
3% of people above 55 dBA
Southern Jamaica
0% of people above 55 dBA
Western Jamaica
1% of people above 55 dBA
Central Jamaica sounds about 97% louder than Southern Jamaica to the human ear, a 9.8 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-1 do you need to be?
Th-1 produces an estimated 53 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 76% of Jamaica sits under tree canopy (much heavier than most cities) and roughly 1% 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.