This map shows modeled outdoor noise across South East Hills 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 1,382 South East Hills residents, or 37.2%, live above that level. By land area, 39.2% of South East Hills is above 55 dBA.
See how noise in South East Hills compares to similar-sized neighborhoods.
Noise by Part of South East Hills
Average noise levels for South East Hills residents, grouped by direction from the center of South East Hills. Eastern South East Hills carries the highest population-weighted average; Southern South East Hills carries the lowest. Just 4% of residents in Southern South East Hills live in blocks above the EPA's 55 dBA threshold, a fifth of the share in Eastern South East Hills.
Central South East Hills
45% of people above 55 dBA
Eastern South East Hills
52% of people above 55 dBA
Northern South East Hills
35% of people above 55 dBA
Southern South East Hills
4% of people above 55 dBA
Western South East Hills
30% of people above 55 dBA
Eastern South East Hills sounds about 74% louder than Southern South East Hills to the human ear, a 8.0 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 Thirtyeighth St do you need to be?
Thirtyeighth St 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 17% of South East Hills sits under tree canopy (about average for neighborhoods) and roughly 42% 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.