This map shows modeled outdoor noise across Ketchum 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 952 Ketchum residents, or 26.8%, live above that level. By land area, 26.5% of Ketchum is above 55 dBA.
See how noise in Ketchum compares to similar-sized cities.
Noise by Part of Ketchum
Average noise levels for Ketchum residents, grouped by direction from the center of Ketchum. Eastern Ketchum carries the highest population-weighted average; Northern Ketchum carries the lowest. Just 14% of residents in Northern Ketchum live in blocks above the EPA's 55 dBA threshold, about half the share in Eastern Ketchum.
Central Ketchum
23% of people above 55 dBA
Eastern Ketchum
34% of people above 55 dBA
Northern Ketchum
14% of people above 55 dBA
Southern Ketchum
30% of people above 55 dBA
Western Ketchum
26% of people above 55 dBA
Eastern Ketchum sounds about 23% louder than Northern Ketchum to the human ear, a 3.0 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 Fsr 277 do you need to be?
Fsr 277 produces an estimated 61 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 13% of Ketchum sits under tree canopy (lighter than most cities) and roughly 30% 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.