This map shows modeled outdoor noise across La Cresta-Alta Vista 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 2,065 La Cresta-Alta Vista residents, or 41.6%, live above that level. By land area, 43.5% of La Cresta-Alta Vista is above 55 dBA.
See how noise in La Cresta-Alta Vista compares to similar-sized neighborhoods.
Noise by Part of La Cresta-Alta Vista
Average noise levels for La Cresta-Alta Vista residents, grouped by direction from the center of La Cresta-Alta Vista. Southern La Cresta-Alta Vista carries the highest population-weighted average; Central La Cresta-Alta Vista carries the lowest. Just 32% of residents in Central La Cresta-Alta Vista live in blocks above the EPA's 55 dBA threshold, three-quarters of the share in Southern La Cresta-Alta Vista.
Central La Cresta-Alta Vista
32% of people above 55 dBA
Eastern La Cresta-Alta Vista
59% of people above 55 dBA
Northern La Cresta-Alta Vista
41% of people above 55 dBA
Southern La Cresta-Alta Vista
48% of people above 55 dBA
Western La Cresta-Alta Vista
30% of people above 55 dBA
Southern La Cresta-Alta Vista sounds about 19% louder than Central La Cresta-Alta Vista to the human ear, a 2.5 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 State Rte 178 do you need to be?
State Rte 178 produces an estimated 71 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 0% of La Cresta-Alta Vista sits under tree canopy (much lighter than most neighborhoods) and roughly 47% 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.