This map shows modeled outdoor noise across Richmond Hill 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 1,905 Richmond Hill residents, or 26.7%, live above that level. By land area, 32.4% of Richmond Hill is above 55 dBA.
See how noise in Richmond Hill compares to similar-sized neighborhoods.
Noise by Part of Richmond Hill
Average noise levels for Richmond Hill residents, grouped by direction from the center of Richmond Hill. The highest population-weighted average is in southern Richmond Hill; the lowest is in northwestern Richmond Hill, where just 22% of residents live in blocks above the EPA's 55 dBA threshold, about two-thirds of the share in the loudest section.
Southern Richmond Hill
41% of people above 55 dBA
Southeastern Richmond Hill
41% of people above 55 dBA
Eastern Richmond Hill
34% of people above 55 dBA
Northern Richmond Hill
21% of people above 55 dBA
Northwestern Richmond Hill
22% of people above 55 dBA
To the human ear, noise in southern Richmond Hill sounds about 97% louder than in northwestern Richmond Hill, a 9.8 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 Richmond Hill Rd; do you need to be?
Richmond Hill Rd; produces an estimated 59 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 37% of Richmond Hill sits under tree canopy (much heavier than most neighborhoods) 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.