This map shows modeled outdoor noise across Pennside 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 1,347 Pennside residents, or 43.6%, live above that level. By land area, 48.6% of Pennside is above 55 dBA.
See how noise in Pennside compares to similar-sized cities.
Noise by Part of Pennside
Average noise levels for Pennside residents, grouped by direction from the center of Pennside. Northern Pennside carries the highest population-weighted average; Eastern Pennside carries the lowest. Just 13% of residents in Eastern Pennside live in blocks above the EPA's 55 dBA threshold, a fifth of the share in Northern Pennside.
Central Pennside
39% of people above 55 dBA
Eastern Pennside
13% of people above 55 dBA
Northern Pennside
81% of people above 55 dBA
Southern Pennside
68% of people above 55 dBA
Western Pennside
22% of people above 55 dBA
Northern Pennside sounds about 141% louder than Eastern Pennside to the human ear, a 12.7 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 Carsonia Av do you need to be?
Carsonia Av produces an estimated 57 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 29% of Pennside sits under tree canopy (about average for cities) and roughly 34% 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.