This map shows modeled outdoor noise across Sears Park Area 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 851 Sears Park Area residents, or 35.4%, live above that level. By land area, 58.5% of Sears Park Area is above 55 dBA.
See how noise in Sears Park Area compares to similar-sized neighborhoods.
Noise by Part of Sears Park Area
Average noise levels for Sears Park Area residents, grouped by direction from the center of Sears Park Area. The highest population-weighted average is in northern Sears Park Area; the lowest is in northeastern Sears Park Area, where just 22% of residents live in blocks above the EPA's 55 dBA threshold, three-quarters of the share in the loudest section.
Northern Sears Park Area
31% of people above 55 dBA
Southern Sears Park Area
40% of people above 55 dBA
Western Sears Park Area
28% of people above 55 dBA
Eastern Sears Park Area
42% of people above 55 dBA
Northeastern Sears Park Area
22% of people above 55 dBA
To the human ear, noise in northern Sears Park Area sounds about 48% louder than in northeastern Sears Park Area, a 5.7 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-20 do you need to be?
I-20 produces an estimated 76 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 0% of Sears Park Area sits under tree canopy (much lighter than most neighborhoods) 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.