This map shows modeled outdoor noise across Rio del Mar 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 2,250 Rio del Mar residents, or 27.4%, live above that level. By land area, 33.9% of Rio del Mar is above 55 dBA.
See how noise in Rio del Mar compares to similar-sized cities.
Noise by Part of Rio del Mar
Average noise levels for Rio del Mar residents, grouped by direction from the center of Rio del Mar. Northern Rio del Mar carries the highest population-weighted average; Southern Rio del Mar carries the lowest. Just 13% of residents in Southern Rio del Mar live in blocks above the EPA's 55 dBA threshold, a third of the share in Northern Rio del Mar.
Central Rio del Mar
17% of people above 55 dBA
Eastern Rio del Mar
13% of people above 55 dBA
Northern Rio del Mar
48% of people above 55 dBA
Southern Rio del Mar
13% of people above 55 dBA
Western Rio del Mar
39% of people above 55 dBA
Northern Rio del Mar sounds about 51% louder than Southern Rio del Mar to the human ear, a 5.9 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 State Rte 1 do you need to be?
State Rte 1 produces an estimated 75 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 20% of Rio del Mar sits under tree canopy (lighter than most cities) and roughly 32% 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.