This map shows modeled outdoor noise across North Weeki Wachee 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 1,029 North Weeki Wachee residents, or 12.5%, live above that level. By land area, 23.9% of North Weeki Wachee is above 55 dBA.
See how noise in North Weeki Wachee compares to similar-sized cities.
Noise by Part of North Weeki Wachee
Average noise levels for North Weeki Wachee residents, grouped by direction from the center of North Weeki Wachee. The highest population-weighted average is in northeastern North Weeki Wachee; the lowest is in western North Weeki Wachee, where just 3% of residents live in blocks above the EPA's 55 dBA threshold, a third of the share in the loudest section.
Northeastern North Weeki Wachee
8% of people above 55 dBA
Eastern North Weeki Wachee
11% of people above 55 dBA
Southwestern North Weeki Wachee
12% of people above 55 dBA
Northwestern North Weeki Wachee
5% of people above 55 dBA
Western North Weeki Wachee
3% of people above 55 dBA
To the human ear, noise in northeastern North Weeki Wachee sounds about 82% louder than in western North Weeki Wachee, a 8.6 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 Commercial Way do you need to be?
Commercial Way produces an estimated 66 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 Weeki Wachee sits under tree canopy (lighter than most cities) and roughly 25% 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.