This map shows modeled outdoor noise across Salisbury Street 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 1,705 Salisbury Street residents, or 31.2%, live above that level. By land area, 38.8% of Salisbury Street is above 55 dBA.
See how noise in Salisbury Street compares to similar-sized neighborhoods.
Noise by Part of Salisbury Street
Average noise levels for Salisbury Street residents, grouped by direction from the center of Salisbury Street. The highest population-weighted average is in eastern Salisbury Street; the lowest is in northwestern Salisbury Street, where just 24% of residents live in blocks above the EPA's 55 dBA threshold, about two-thirds of the share in the loudest section.
Eastern Salisbury Street
46% of people above 55 dBA
Southwestern Salisbury Street
50% of people above 55 dBA
Western Salisbury Street
40% of people above 55 dBA
Southern Salisbury Street
25% of people above 55 dBA
Northwestern Salisbury Street
24% of people above 55 dBA
To the human ear, noise in eastern Salisbury Street sounds about 28% louder than in northwestern Salisbury Street, a 3.6 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 68 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 50% of Salisbury Street sits under tree canopy (much heavier than most neighborhoods) and roughly 25% 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.