This map shows modeled outdoor noise across North Lincoln Street 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 3,257 North Lincoln Street residents, or 52.8%, live above that level. By land area, 58.9% of North Lincoln Street is above 55 dBA.
See how noise in North Lincoln Street compares to similar-sized neighborhoods.
Noise by Part of North Lincoln Street
Average noise levels for North Lincoln Street residents, grouped by direction from the center of North Lincoln Street. Southern North Lincoln Street carries the highest population-weighted average; Eastern North Lincoln Street carries the lowest. Just 38% of residents in Eastern North Lincoln Street live in blocks above the EPA's 55 dBA threshold, about half the share in Southern North Lincoln Street.
Central North Lincoln Street
37% of people above 55 dBA
Eastern North Lincoln Street
38% of people above 55 dBA
Northern North Lincoln Street
32% of people above 55 dBA
Southern North Lincoln Street
97% of people above 55 dBA
Western North Lincoln Street
79% of people above 55 dBA
Southern North Lincoln Street sounds about 138% louder than Eastern North Lincoln Street to the human ear, a 12.5 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 I-290 do you need to be?
I-290 produces an estimated 77 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 quiet suburban street at night.
Calculated from the model's calibrated attenuation formula. About 29% of North Lincoln Street sits under tree canopy (heavier than most neighborhoods) and roughly 44% 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.