This map shows modeled outdoor noise across Paddock Lake 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 1,053 Paddock Lake residents, or 46.8%, live above that level. By land area, 47.9% of Paddock Lake is above 55 dBA.
See how noise in Paddock Lake compares to similar-sized cities.
Noise by Part of Paddock Lake
Average noise levels for Paddock Lake residents, grouped by direction from the center of Paddock Lake. Central Paddock Lake carries the highest population-weighted average; Southern Paddock Lake carries the lowest. Just 36% of residents in Southern Paddock Lake live in blocks above the EPA's 55 dBA threshold, three-quarters of the share in Central Paddock Lake.
Central Paddock Lake
52% of people above 55 dBA
Eastern Paddock Lake
38% of people above 55 dBA
Northern Paddock Lake
58% of people above 55 dBA
Southern Paddock Lake
36% of people above 55 dBA
Western Paddock Lake
48% of people above 55 dBA
Central Paddock Lake sounds about 24% louder than Southern Paddock Lake to the human ear, a 3.1 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 Sth 050E do you need to be?
Sth 050E produces an estimated 65 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 26% of Paddock Lake sits under tree canopy (about average for cities) and roughly 19% 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.