This map shows modeled outdoor noise across North Square 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 1,635 North Square residents, or 34.0%, live above that level. By land area, 40.1% of North Square is above 55 dBA.
See how noise in North Square compares to similar-sized neighborhoods.
Noise by Part of North Square
Average noise levels for North Square residents, grouped by direction from the center of North Square. The highest population-weighted average is in southern North Square; the lowest is in northwestern North Square, where just 18% of residents live in blocks above the EPA's 55 dBA threshold, about half the share in the loudest section.
Southern North Square
44% of people above 55 dBA
Southeastern North Square
30% of people above 55 dBA
Eastern North Square
21% of people above 55 dBA
Northern North Square
17% of people above 55 dBA
Northwestern North Square
18% of people above 55 dBA
To the human ear, noise in southern North Square sounds about 25% louder than in northwestern North Square, a 3.2 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 do you need to be?
produces an estimated 62 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 40% of North Square sits under tree canopy (much heavier than most neighborhoods) and roughly 41% 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.