This map shows modeled outdoor noise across Mystic Island 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 204 Mystic Island residents, or 5.2%, live above that level. By land area, 10.7% of Mystic Island is above 55 dBA.
See how noise in Mystic Island compares to similar-sized cities.
Noise by Part of Mystic Island
Average noise levels for Mystic Island residents, grouped by direction from the center of Mystic Island. Central Mystic Island carries the highest population-weighted average; Eastern Mystic Island carries the lowest. Just 0% of residents in Eastern Mystic Island live in blocks above the EPA's 55 dBA threshold, a fifth of the share in Central Mystic Island.
Central Mystic Island
9% of people above 55 dBA
Eastern Mystic Island
0% of people above 55 dBA
Northern Mystic Island
6% of people above 55 dBA
Southern Mystic Island
4% of people above 55 dBA
Central Mystic Island sounds about 550% louder than Eastern Mystic Island to the human ear, a 27.0 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 Ocean County 601 do you need to be?
Ocean County 601 produces an estimated 58 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 26% of Mystic Island sits under tree canopy (about average for cities) and roughly 45% 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.