This map shows modeled outdoor noise across South 48th 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 371 South 48th Street residents, or 5.7%, live above that level. By land area, 8.6% of South 48th Street is above 55 dBA.
See how noise in South 48th Street compares to similar-sized neighborhoods.
Noise by Part of South 48th Street
Average noise levels for South 48th Street residents, grouped by direction from the center of South 48th Street. The highest population-weighted average is in southern South 48th Street; the lowest is in southeastern South 48th Street, where just 4% of residents live in blocks above the EPA's 55 dBA threshold, about two-thirds of the share in the loudest section.
Southern South 48th Street
8% of people above 55 dBA
Northeastern South 48th Street
6% of people above 55 dBA
Southwestern South 48th Street
4% of people above 55 dBA
Central South 48th Street
4% of people above 55 dBA
Southeastern South 48th Street
4% of people above 55 dBA
To the human ear, noise in southern South 48th Street sounds about 26% louder than in southeastern South 48th Street, a 3.3 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 48TH St do you need to be?
48TH St produces an estimated 58 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 17% of South 48th Street sits under tree canopy (about average for neighborhoods) and roughly 40% 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.