This map shows modeled outdoor noise across Lake Erie 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 788 Lake Erie Beach residents, or 25.9%, live above that level. By land area, 31.6% of Lake Erie Beach is above 55 dBA.
See how noise in Lake Erie Beach compares to similar-sized cities.
Noise by Part of Lake Erie Beach
Average noise levels for Lake Erie Beach residents, grouped by direction from the center of Lake Erie Beach. Western Lake Erie Beach carries the highest population-weighted average; Central Lake Erie Beach carries the lowest. Just 30% of residents in Central Lake Erie Beach live in blocks above the EPA's 55 dBA threshold, roughly the same as the share in Western Lake Erie Beach.
Central Lake Erie Beach
30% of people above 55 dBA
Eastern Lake Erie Beach
24% of people above 55 dBA
Northern Lake Erie Beach
22% of people above 55 dBA
Southern Lake Erie Beach
21% of people above 55 dBA
Western Lake Erie Beach
30% of people above 55 dBA
Western Lake Erie Beach sounds about 16% louder than Central Lake Erie Beach to the human ear, a 2.2 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 Lake Shore Rd do you need to be?
Lake Shore Rd produces an estimated 57 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 38% of Lake Erie Beach sits under tree canopy (about average for cities) and roughly 13% 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.