Noise Levels in North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND | Find Quiet Neighborhoods With Our Sound Map
58 dBA
Average noise across North Dakota State University
Normal conversation an arm’s length away
3,955
Residents above the EPA 55 dBA threshold
69% of North Dakota State University residents
79 dBA
Loudest residential point
City bus interior
This map shows modeled outdoor noise across North Dakota State University 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 3,955 North Dakota State University residents, or 68.9%, live above that level. By land area, 78.6% of North Dakota State University is above 55 dBA.
21.4% below 55 dBA
78.6% above 55 dBA
See how noise in North Dakota State University compares to similar-sized neighborhoods.
Noise by Part of North Dakota State University
Average noise levels for North Dakota State University residents, grouped by direction from the center of North Dakota State University. The highest population-weighted average is in southwestern North Dakota State University; the lowest is in northern North Dakota State University, where just 36% of residents live in blocks above the EPA's 55 dBA threshold, about half the share in the loudest section.
Southwestern North Dakota State University
61.9 dBA · Loud
Busy restaurant
Southeastern North Dakota State University
61.2 dBA · Loud
Busy restaurant
Southern North Dakota State University
59.7 dBA · Loud
Normal conversation an arm’s length away
Northeastern North Dakota State University
56.5 dBA · Moderate-loud
Normal conversation an arm’s length away
Northern North Dakota State University
55.6 dBA · Moderate-loud
Quiet office to normal conversation
To the human ear, noise in southwestern North Dakota State University sounds about 55% louder than in northern North Dakota State University, a 6.3 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 Dakotadrn do you need to be?
Dakotadrn produces an estimated 56 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.
At source
56 dBA
Quiet office to normal conversation
165 ft
42 dBA
Quiet suburban street at night
330 ft
35 dBA
Soft rainfall
660 ft
35 dBA
Soft rainfall
¼ mile
35 dBA
Soft rainfall
½ mile
35 dBA
Soft rainfall
Calculated from the model's calibrated attenuation formula. About 2% of North Dakota State University sits under tree canopy (much lighter than most neighborhoods) and roughly 65% 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.
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Rail Noise
Active freight rail runs through parts of North Dakota State University. For most blocks the rail-only contribution is small. Combined road-plus-rail noise rarely exceeds road noise on its own. The exceptions are the handful of blocks within roughly a quarter mile of the right-of-way during pass-through hours.
Use the Rail toggle on the map above to isolate rail's contribution from road and aviation.
Airport Noise
Hector International (FAR) sits north of North Dakota State University. The U.S. Department of Transportation models aviation noise around this airport from federal traffic data, and the model uses those federal measurements rather than synthetic predictions.
Blocks under the approach and departure paths carry combined road-plus-aviation noise, with some exceeding 55 dBA on the map's Overall layer. Blocks on the opposite side of North Dakota State University, particularly to the south, show no measurable aviation contribution. Use the Aviation toggle on the map above to isolate the airport's footprint.
How Noise Is Distributed Across North Dakota State University
The bar chart below shows the share of North Dakota State University residents in each noise band. About 6% of residents live below the EPA's 55 dBA threshold, and roughly 18% live in blocks above 60 dBA. Long-term exposure in that range is linked to elevated stress hormones and cardiovascular risk.
How North Dakota State University Compares
North Dakota State University sits the highest among the peer group. Below: how North Dakota State University's average outdoor noise and share of residents above the EPA threshold compare with Osgood, Jefferson-Carl Ben, Village West, and Northport.
Average noise level (dBA)
North Dakota State University's 57.8 dBA pop-weighted average is the highest among the peer group. North Dakota as a whole averages 50.1 dBA and the U.S. averages 52.0 dBA. Both are lower than North Dakota State University because most of either area is rural land away from major roads.
Share of residents above 55 dBA
About 68.9% of North Dakota State University residents live in blocks where outdoor levels exceed the EPA's 55 dBA threshold. That's more than any of its peer group. Measured by land area instead, 78.6% of North Dakota State University's footprint sits above 55 dBA, against a North Dakota average of 11.5% and a national average of 28.1%.
What This Means if You're Moving to North Dakota State University
- Distance from highways matters more than the neighborhood name. Two homes in the same zip code can differ by 20 dBA if one sits 100 meters from Dakotadrn and the other 500 meters away. The model captures this at 100-meter resolution, so noise exposure changes block by block.
- Tree canopy can help reduce modeled noise exposure. Roughly 2% of North Dakota State University is under tree cover (much lighter than most neighborhoods), and the dominant land cover is medium-intensity developed land. Both are measured from federal USDA Forest Service and USGS satellite imagery at 30-meter resolution. Streets with 60% or higher canopy show 3 to 5 dBA lower noise than comparable streets with bare ground or pavement, which is why the per-place decay rate above already accounts for it.
- Airport noise is directional. Hector International's approach paths concentrate aviation noise to the north. Neighborhoods to the south of downtown show no measurable contribution from the airport.
