This map shows modeled outdoor noise across South Peoria 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 3,130 South Peoria residents, or 43.5%, live above that level. By land area, 52.4% of South Peoria is above 55 dBA.
See how noise in South Peoria compares to similar-sized neighborhoods.
Noise by Part of South Peoria
Average noise levels for South Peoria residents, grouped by direction from the center of South Peoria. Western South Peoria carries the highest population-weighted average; Eastern South Peoria carries the lowest. Just 6% of residents in Eastern South Peoria live in blocks above the EPA's 55 dBA threshold, a fifth of the share in Western South Peoria.
Central South Peoria
34% of people above 55 dBA
Eastern South Peoria
6% of people above 55 dBA
Northern South Peoria
56% of people above 55 dBA
Southern South Peoria
54% of people above 55 dBA
Western South Peoria
44% of people above 55 dBA
Western South Peoria sounds about 101% louder than Eastern South Peoria to the human ear, a 10.1 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 Riverside Dr do you need to be?
Riverside Dr produces an estimated 62 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 6% of South Peoria sits under tree canopy (lighter than most neighborhoods) and roughly 58% 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.