This map shows modeled outdoor noise across Royal Lakes 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 1,146 Royal Lakes residents, or 28.9%, live above that level. By land area, 37.5% of Royal Lakes is above 55 dBA.
See how noise in Royal Lakes compares to similar-sized neighborhoods.
Noise by Part of Royal Lakes
Average noise levels for Royal Lakes residents, grouped by direction from the center of Royal Lakes. Western Royal Lakes carries the highest population-weighted average; Central Royal Lakes carries the lowest. Just 11% of residents in Central Royal Lakes live in blocks above the EPA's 55 dBA threshold, a third of the share in Western Royal Lakes.
Central Royal Lakes
11% of people above 55 dBA
Eastern Royal Lakes
45% of people above 55 dBA
Northern Royal Lakes
33% of people above 55 dBA
Southern Royal Lakes
47% of people above 55 dBA
Western Royal Lakes
39% of people above 55 dBA
Western Royal Lakes sounds about 136% louder than Central Royal Lakes to the human ear, a 12.4 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 I-95 do you need to be?
I-95 produces an estimated 79 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 quiet suburban street at night.
Calculated from the model's calibrated attenuation formula. About 12% of Royal Lakes sits under tree canopy (about average for neighborhoods) and roughly 64% 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.