This map shows modeled outdoor noise across Northwest Corpus Christi 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 3,230 Northwest Corpus Christi residents, or 28.1%, live above that level. By land area, 41.0% of Northwest Corpus Christi is above 55 dBA.
See how noise in Northwest Corpus Christi compares to similar-sized neighborhoods.
Noise by Part of Northwest Corpus Christi
Average noise levels for Northwest Corpus Christi residents, grouped by direction from the center of Northwest Corpus Christi. Northern Northwest Corpus Christi carries the highest population-weighted average; Central Northwest Corpus Christi carries the lowest. Just 10% of residents in Central Northwest Corpus Christi live in blocks above the EPA's 55 dBA threshold, a third of the share in Northern Northwest Corpus Christi.
Central Northwest Corpus Christi
10% of people above 55 dBA
Eastern Northwest Corpus Christi
33% of people above 55 dBA
Northern Northwest Corpus Christi
41% of people above 55 dBA
Southern Northwest Corpus Christi
11% of people above 55 dBA
Western Northwest Corpus Christi
19% of people above 55 dBA
Northern Northwest Corpus Christi sounds about 77% louder than Central Northwest Corpus Christi to the human ear, a 8.2 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 I-37 do you need to be?
I-37 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 soft rainfall.
Calculated from the model's calibrated attenuation formula. About 5% of Northwest Corpus Christi sits under tree canopy (lighter than most neighborhoods) and roughly 33% 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.