This map shows modeled outdoor noise across Palm Valley 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 977 Palm Valley residents, or 5.8%, live above that level. By land area, 12.3% of Palm Valley is above 55 dBA.
See how noise in Palm Valley compares to similar-sized cities.
Noise by Part of Palm Valley
Average noise levels for Palm Valley residents, grouped by direction from the center of Palm Valley. The highest population-weighted average is in northern Palm Valley; the lowest is in northwestern Palm Valley, where just 1% of residents live in blocks above the EPA's 55 dBA threshold, a fifth of the share in the loudest section.
Northern Palm Valley
9% of people above 55 dBA
Southeastern Palm Valley
6% of people above 55 dBA
Northeastern Palm Valley
3% of people above 55 dBA
Southwestern Palm Valley
1% of people above 55 dBA
Northwestern Palm Valley
1% of people above 55 dBA
To the human ear, noise in northern Palm Valley sounds about 64% louder than in northwestern Palm Valley, a 7.1 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 Sr-a1a do you need to be?
Sr-a1a produces an estimated 62 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 Palm Valley sits under tree canopy (about average for 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.