This map shows modeled outdoor noise across New Idaho 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 3 New Idaho residents, or 0.9%, live above that level. By land area, 3.5% of New Idaho is above 55 dBA.
See how noise in New Idaho compares to similar-sized cities.
Noise by Part of New Idaho
Average noise levels for New Idaho residents, grouped by direction from the center of New Idaho. Western New Idaho carries the highest population-weighted average; Southern New Idaho carries the lowest. Just 0% of residents in Southern New Idaho live in blocks above the EPA's 55 dBA threshold, a fifth of the share in Western New Idaho.
Eastern New Idaho
1% of people above 55 dBA
Northern New Idaho
0% of people above 55 dBA
Southern New Idaho
0% of people above 55 dBA
Western New Idaho
2% of people above 55 dBA
Western New Idaho sounds about 77% louder than Southern New Idaho to the human ear, a 8.2 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 Oregon Route 140 do you need to be?
Oregon Route 140 produces an estimated 60 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 New Idaho sits under tree canopy (lighter than most cities) and roughly 0% 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.