This map shows modeled outdoor noise across Ruidoso Downs 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 444 Ruidoso Downs residents, or 16.8%, live above that level. By land area, 20.2% of Ruidoso Downs is above 55 dBA.
See how noise in Ruidoso Downs compares to similar-sized cities.
Noise by Part of Ruidoso Downs
Average noise levels for Ruidoso Downs residents, grouped by direction from the center of Ruidoso Downs. Central Ruidoso Downs carries the highest population-weighted average; Northern Ruidoso Downs carries the lowest. Just 1% of residents in Northern Ruidoso Downs live in blocks above the EPA's 55 dBA threshold, a fifth of the share in Central Ruidoso Downs.
Central Ruidoso Downs
16% of people above 55 dBA
Eastern Ruidoso Downs
16% of people above 55 dBA
Northern Ruidoso Downs
1% of people above 55 dBA
Southern Ruidoso Downs
27% of people above 55 dBA
Western Ruidoso Downs
10% of people above 55 dBA
Central Ruidoso Downs sounds about 127% louder than Northern Ruidoso Downs to the human ear, a 11.8 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 US Hwy 70 do you need to be?
US Hwy 70 produces an estimated 64 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 14% of Ruidoso Downs sits under tree canopy (lighter than most cities) and roughly 19% 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.