This map shows modeled outdoor noise across South Pottstown 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 340 South Pottstown residents, or 45.2%, live above that level. By land area, 59.3% of South Pottstown is above 55 dBA.
See how noise in South Pottstown compares to similar-sized cities.
Noise by Part of South Pottstown
Average noise levels for South Pottstown residents, grouped by direction from the center of South Pottstown. Northern South Pottstown carries the highest population-weighted average; Western South Pottstown carries the lowest. Just 15% of residents in Western South Pottstown live in blocks above the EPA's 55 dBA threshold, a fifth of the share in Northern South Pottstown.
Central South Pottstown
63% of people above 55 dBA
Eastern South Pottstown
23% of people above 55 dBA
Northern South Pottstown
97% of people above 55 dBA
Western South Pottstown
15% of people above 55 dBA
Northern South Pottstown sounds about 326% louder than Western South Pottstown to the human ear, a 20.9 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 Pottstown Bp do you need to be?
Pottstown Bp produces an estimated 74 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 19% of South Pottstown sits under tree canopy (lighter than most cities) 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.