This map shows modeled outdoor noise across Kure Beach 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 682 Kure Beach residents, or 36.0%, live above that level. By land area, 36.2% of Kure Beach is above 55 dBA.
See how noise in Kure Beach compares to similar-sized cities.
Noise by Part of Kure Beach
Average noise levels for Kure Beach residents, grouped by direction from the center of Kure Beach. Southern Kure Beach carries the highest population-weighted average; Northern Kure Beach carries the lowest. Just 25% of residents in Northern Kure Beach live in blocks above the EPA's 55 dBA threshold, about half the share in Southern Kure Beach.
Central Kure Beach
40% of people above 55 dBA
Northern Kure Beach
25% of people above 55 dBA
Southern Kure Beach
53% of people above 55 dBA
Southern Kure Beach sounds about 22% louder than Northern Kure Beach to the human ear, a 2.9 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-421 do you need to be?
US-421 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 9% of Kure Beach sits under tree canopy (lighter than most cities) and roughly 49% 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.