This map shows modeled outdoor noise across South Glens Falls 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 1,541 South Glens Falls residents, or 18.6%, live above that level. By land area, 22.2% of South Glens Falls is above 55 dBA.
See how noise in South Glens Falls compares to similar-sized cities.
Noise by Part of South Glens Falls
Average noise levels for South Glens Falls residents, grouped by direction from the center of South Glens Falls. Northern South Glens Falls carries the highest population-weighted average; Eastern South Glens Falls carries the lowest. Just 6% of residents in Eastern South Glens Falls live in blocks above the EPA's 55 dBA threshold, a third of the share in Northern South Glens Falls.
Central South Glens Falls
28% of people above 55 dBA
Eastern South Glens Falls
6% of people above 55 dBA
Northern South Glens Falls
31% of people above 55 dBA
Southern South Glens Falls
15% of people above 55 dBA
Western South Glens Falls
12% of people above 55 dBA
Northern South Glens Falls sounds about 79% louder than Eastern South Glens Falls to the human ear, a 8.4 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 Saratoga Rd Us-9 do you need to be?
Saratoga Rd Us-9 produces an estimated 63 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 38% of South Glens Falls sits under tree canopy (about average for cities) and roughly 24% 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.