This map shows modeled outdoor noise across Linville Falls 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 5 Linville Falls residents, or 4.0%, live above that level. By land area, 3.6% of Linville Falls is above 55 dBA.
See how noise in Linville Falls compares to similar-sized cities.
Noise by Part of Linville Falls
Average noise levels for Linville Falls residents, grouped by direction from the center of Linville Falls. Northern Linville Falls carries the highest population-weighted average; Southern Linville Falls carries the lowest. Just 0% of residents in Southern Linville Falls live in blocks above the EPA's 55 dBA threshold, a fifth of the share in Northern Linville Falls.
Central Linville Falls
2% of people above 55 dBA
Eastern Linville Falls
0% of people above 55 dBA
Northern Linville Falls
18% of people above 55 dBA
Southern Linville Falls
0% of people above 55 dBA
Western Linville Falls
3% of people above 55 dBA
Northern Linville Falls sounds about 201% louder than Southern Linville Falls to the human ear, a 15.9 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 Fed-902 do you need to be?
Fed-902 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 41% of Linville Falls sits under tree canopy (about average for cities) and roughly 2% 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.