This map shows modeled outdoor noise across Lower Village District 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 1,705 Lower Village District residents, or 41.7%, live above that level. By land area, 42.3% of Lower Village District is above 55 dBA.
See how noise in Lower Village District compares to similar-sized neighborhoods.
Noise by Part of Lower Village District
Average noise levels for Lower Village District residents, grouped by direction from the center of Lower Village District. Central Lower Village District carries the highest population-weighted average; Northern Lower Village District carries the lowest. Just 9% of residents in Northern Lower Village District live in blocks above the EPA's 55 dBA threshold, a fifth of the share in Central Lower Village District.
Central Lower Village District
51% of people above 55 dBA
Eastern Lower Village District
51% of people above 55 dBA
Northern Lower Village District
9% of people above 55 dBA
Southern Lower Village District
52% of people above 55 dBA
Western Lower Village District
36% of people above 55 dBA
Central Lower Village District sounds about 65% louder than Northern Lower Village District to the human ear, a 7.2 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 Elm St do you need to be?
Elm St produces an estimated 55 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 42% of Lower Village District sits under tree canopy (much heavier than most neighborhoods) and roughly 39% 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.