This map shows modeled outdoor noise across Lower Grand Lagoon 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 1,083 Lower Grand Lagoon residents, or 26.3%, live above that level. By land area, 31.4% of Lower Grand Lagoon is above 55 dBA.
See how noise in Lower Grand Lagoon compares to similar-sized cities.
Noise by Part of Lower Grand Lagoon
Average noise levels for Lower Grand Lagoon residents, grouped by direction from the center of Lower Grand Lagoon. Northern Lower Grand Lagoon carries the highest population-weighted average; Southern Lower Grand Lagoon carries the lowest. Just 6% of residents in Southern Lower Grand Lagoon live in blocks above the EPA's 55 dBA threshold, a fifth of the share in Northern Lower Grand Lagoon.
Central Lower Grand Lagoon
24% of people above 55 dBA
Eastern Lower Grand Lagoon
28% of people above 55 dBA
Northern Lower Grand Lagoon
36% of people above 55 dBA
Southern Lower Grand Lagoon
6% of people above 55 dBA
Western Lower Grand Lagoon
31% of people above 55 dBA
Northern Lower Grand Lagoon sounds about 79% louder than Southern Lower Grand Lagoon to the human ear, a 8.4 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 64 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 3% of Lower Grand Lagoon sits under tree canopy (much lighter than most cities) and roughly 54% 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.