This map shows modeled outdoor noise across John Day 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 483 John Day residents, or 21.5%, live above that level. By land area, 17.6% of John Day is above 55 dBA.
See how noise in John Day compares to similar-sized cities.
Noise by Part of John Day
Average noise levels for John Day residents, grouped by direction from the center of John Day. Central John Day carries the highest population-weighted average; Southern John Day carries the lowest. Just 11% of residents in Southern John Day live in blocks above the EPA's 55 dBA threshold, about half the share in Central John Day.
Central John Day
23% of people above 55 dBA
Eastern John Day
22% of people above 55 dBA
Northern John Day
30% of people above 55 dBA
Southern John Day
11% of people above 55 dBA
Western John Day
11% of people above 55 dBA
Central John Day sounds about 47% louder than Southern John Day to the human ear, a 5.6 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 US Route 26 do you need to be?
US Route 26 produces an estimated 62 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 2% of John Day sits under tree canopy (much lighter than most cities) and roughly 34% 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.