This map shows modeled outdoor noise across Paducah 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 96 Paducah residents, or 20.7%, live above that level. By land area, 8.2% of Paducah is above 55 dBA.
See how noise in Paducah compares to similar-sized cities.
Noise by Part of Paducah
Average noise levels for Paducah residents, grouped by direction from the center of Paducah. Eastern Paducah carries the highest population-weighted average; Southern Paducah carries the lowest. Just 0% of residents in Southern Paducah live in blocks above the EPA's 55 dBA threshold, a fifth of the share in Eastern Paducah.
Central Paducah
0% of people above 55 dBA
Eastern Paducah
18% of people above 55 dBA
Northern Paducah
33% of people above 55 dBA
Southern Paducah
0% of people above 55 dBA
Western Paducah
0% of people above 55 dBA
Eastern Paducah sounds about 216% louder than Southern Paducah to the human ear, a 16.6 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 do you need to be?
produces an estimated 60 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 0% of Paducah sits under tree canopy (much lighter than most cities) and roughly 29% 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.