This map shows modeled outdoor noise across Lake Isabella 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 660 Lake Isabella residents, or 16.1%, live above that level. By land area, 18.7% of Lake Isabella is above 55 dBA.
See how noise in Lake Isabella compares to similar-sized cities.
Noise by Part of Lake Isabella
Average noise levels for Lake Isabella residents, grouped by direction from the center of Lake Isabella. Eastern Lake Isabella carries the highest population-weighted average; Central Lake Isabella carries the lowest. Just 1% of residents in Central Lake Isabella live in blocks above the EPA's 55 dBA threshold, a fifth of the share in Eastern Lake Isabella.
Central Lake Isabella
1% of people above 55 dBA
Eastern Lake Isabella
20% of people above 55 dBA
Northern Lake Isabella
0% of people above 55 dBA
Southern Lake Isabella
4% of people above 55 dBA
Western Lake Isabella
16% of people above 55 dBA
Eastern Lake Isabella sounds about 100% louder than Central Lake Isabella to the human ear, a 10.0 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 do you need to be?
produces an estimated 63 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 Lake Isabella sits under tree canopy (much lighter than most cities) and roughly 27% 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.