This map shows modeled outdoor noise across Southmont 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 554 Southmont residents, or 33.8%, live above that level. By land area, 39.3% of Southmont is above 55 dBA.
See how noise in Southmont compares to similar-sized cities.
Noise by Part of Southmont
Average noise levels for Southmont residents, grouped by direction from the center of Southmont. Northern Southmont carries the highest population-weighted average; Eastern Southmont carries the lowest. Just 30% of residents in Eastern Southmont live in blocks above the EPA's 55 dBA threshold, three-quarters of the share in Northern Southmont.
Central Southmont
28% of people above 55 dBA
Eastern Southmont
30% of people above 55 dBA
Northern Southmont
44% of people above 55 dBA
Western Southmont
46% of people above 55 dBA
Northern Southmont sounds about 16% louder than Eastern Southmont to the human ear, a 2.2 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 Menoher BL do you need to be?
Menoher BL 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 38% of Southmont sits under tree canopy (about average for cities) and roughly 22% 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.