This map shows modeled outdoor noise across Puget 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 2,328 Puget residents, or 38.0%, live above that level. By land area, 45.3% of Puget is above 55 dBA.
See how noise in Puget compares to similar-sized neighborhoods.
Noise by Part of Puget
Average noise levels for Puget residents, grouped by direction from the center of Puget. The highest population-weighted average is in northwestern Puget; the lowest is in southeastern Puget, where just 25% of residents live in blocks above the EPA's 55 dBA threshold, three-quarters of the share in the loudest section.
Northwestern Puget
32% of people above 55 dBA
Northeastern Puget
32% of people above 55 dBA
Southwestern Puget
31% of people above 55 dBA
Southern Puget
23% of people above 55 dBA
Southeastern Puget
25% of people above 55 dBA
To the human ear, noise in northwestern Puget sounds about 74% louder than in southeastern Puget, a 8.0 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 66 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 33% of Puget sits under tree canopy (much heavier than most neighborhoods) and roughly 42% 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.