This map shows modeled outdoor noise across Monte Alto 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 78 Monte Alto residents, or 6.6%, live above that level. By land area, 3.0% of Monte Alto is above 55 dBA.
See how noise in Monte Alto compares to similar-sized cities.
Noise by Part of Monte Alto
Average noise levels for Monte Alto residents, grouped by direction from the center of Monte Alto. Northern Monte Alto carries the highest population-weighted average; Eastern Monte Alto carries the lowest. Just 20% of residents in Eastern Monte Alto live in blocks above the EPA's 55 dBA threshold, roughly the same as the share in Northern Monte Alto.
Eastern Monte Alto
20% of people above 55 dBA
Northern Monte Alto
5% of people above 55 dBA
Southern Monte Alto
1% of people above 55 dBA
Western Monte Alto
3% of people above 55 dBA
Northern Monte Alto sounds about 28% louder than Eastern Monte Alto to the human ear, a 3.6 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 62 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 2% of Monte Alto sits under tree canopy (much lighter than most cities) and roughly 3% 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.