This map shows modeled outdoor noise across Old Allentown 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 2,512 Old Allentown residents, or 77.1%, live above that level. By land area, 74.3% of Old Allentown is above 55 dBA.
See how noise in Old Allentown compares to similar-sized neighborhoods.
Noise by Part of Old Allentown
Average noise levels for Old Allentown residents, grouped by direction from the center of Old Allentown. The highest population-weighted average is in eastern Old Allentown; the lowest is in western Old Allentown, where just 60% of residents live in blocks above the EPA's 55 dBA threshold, three-quarters of the share in the loudest section.
Eastern Old Allentown
81% of people above 55 dBA
Southwestern Old Allentown
71% of people above 55 dBA
Central Old Allentown
71% of people above 55 dBA
Northern Old Allentown
87% of people above 55 dBA
Western Old Allentown
60% of people above 55 dBA
To the human ear, noise in eastern Old Allentown sounds about 13% louder than in western Old Allentown, a 1.7 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 67 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 4% of Old Allentown sits under tree canopy (much lighter than most neighborhoods) and roughly 82% 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.