This map shows modeled outdoor noise across North Waco 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 281 North Waco residents, or 17.6%, live above that level. By land area, 23.4% of North Waco is above 55 dBA.
See how noise in North Waco compares to similar-sized neighborhoods.
Noise by Part of North Waco
Average noise levels for North Waco residents, grouped by direction from the center of North Waco. Southern North Waco carries the highest population-weighted average; Western North Waco carries the lowest. Just 8% of residents in Western North Waco live in blocks above the EPA's 55 dBA threshold, a third of the share in Southern North Waco.
Central North Waco
9% of people above 55 dBA
Eastern North Waco
20% of people above 55 dBA
Northern North Waco
29% of people above 55 dBA
Southern North Waco
25% of people above 55 dBA
Western North Waco
8% of people above 55 dBA
Southern North Waco sounds about 53% louder than Western North Waco to the human ear, a 6.1 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 58 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 20% of North Waco sits under tree canopy (heavier than most neighborhoods) and roughly 30% 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.