This map shows modeled outdoor noise across Mesa Junction 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 1,296 Mesa Junction residents, or 40.8%, live above that level. By land area, 39.2% of Mesa Junction is above 55 dBA.
See how noise in Mesa Junction compares to similar-sized neighborhoods.
Noise by Part of Mesa Junction
Average noise levels for Mesa Junction residents, grouped by direction from the center of Mesa Junction. The highest population-weighted average is in eastern Mesa Junction; the lowest is in western Mesa Junction, where just 36% of residents live in blocks above the EPA's 55 dBA threshold, three-quarters of the share in the loudest section.
Eastern Mesa Junction
47% of people above 55 dBA
Northern Mesa Junction
47% of people above 55 dBA
Central Mesa Junction
44% of people above 55 dBA
Southeastern Mesa Junction
46% of people above 55 dBA
Western Mesa Junction
36% of people above 55 dBA
To the human ear, noise in eastern Mesa Junction sounds about 41% louder than in western Mesa Junction, a 5.0 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 Abriendo Av do you need to be?
Abriendo Av produces an estimated 61 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 6% of Mesa Junction sits under tree canopy (lighter than most neighborhoods) and roughly 48% 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.