This map shows modeled outdoor noise across Neptune Beach 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 2,238 Neptune Beach residents, or 34.3%, live above that level. By land area, 40.2% of Neptune Beach is above 55 dBA.
See how noise in Neptune Beach compares to similar-sized cities.
Noise by Part of Neptune Beach
Average noise levels for Neptune Beach residents, grouped by direction from the center of Neptune Beach. The highest population-weighted average is in eastern Neptune Beach; the lowest is in western Neptune Beach, where just 18% of residents live in blocks above the EPA's 55 dBA threshold, three-quarters of the share in the loudest section.
Eastern Neptune Beach
24% of people above 55 dBA
Northeastern Neptune Beach
22% of people above 55 dBA
Southern Neptune Beach
23% of people above 55 dBA
Southwestern Neptune Beach
18% of people above 55 dBA
Western Neptune Beach
18% of people above 55 dBA
To the human ear, noise in eastern Neptune Beach sounds about 27% louder than in western Neptune Beach, a 3.4 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 67 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 22% of Neptune Beach sits under tree canopy (about average for cities) 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.