This map shows modeled outdoor noise across Mornngside 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 926 Mornngside residents, or 29.4%, live above that level. By land area, 32.8% of Mornngside is above 55 dBA.
See how noise in Mornngside compares to similar-sized neighborhoods.
Noise by Part of Mornngside
Average noise levels for Mornngside residents, grouped by direction from the center of Mornngside. Southern Mornngside carries the highest population-weighted average; Northern Mornngside carries the lowest. Just 22% of residents in Northern Mornngside live in blocks above the EPA's 55 dBA threshold, a third of the share in Southern Mornngside.
Central Mornngside
21% of people above 55 dBA
Eastern Mornngside
55% of people above 55 dBA
Northern Mornngside
22% of people above 55 dBA
Southern Mornngside
80% of people above 55 dBA
Western Mornngside
39% of people above 55 dBA
Southern Mornngside sounds about 173% louder than Northern Mornngside to the human ear, a 14.5 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 James White Pkwy do you need to be?
James White Pkwy produces an estimated 72 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 28% of Mornngside sits under tree canopy (heavier than most neighborhoods) and roughly 38% 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.