This map shows modeled outdoor noise across Long 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 620 Long Beach residents, or 46.3%, live above that level. By land area, 48.2% of Long Beach is above 55 dBA.
See how noise in Long Beach compares to similar-sized cities.
Noise by Part of Long Beach
Average noise levels for Long Beach residents, grouped by direction from the center of Long Beach. The highest population-weighted average is in central Long Beach; the lowest is in western Long Beach, where just 19% of residents live in blocks above the EPA's 55 dBA threshold, about half the share in the loudest section.
Central Long Beach
45% of people above 55 dBA
Eastern Long Beach
45% of people above 55 dBA
Northeastern Long Beach
45% of people above 55 dBA
Western Long Beach
19% of people above 55 dBA
To the human ear, noise in central Long Beach sounds about 22% louder than in western Long Beach, 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 Oriole Tr do you need to be?
Oriole Tr produces an estimated 59 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 49% of Long Beach sits under tree canopy (heavier than most cities) and roughly 11% 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.