This map shows modeled outdoor noise across Southwest Bend 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 4,078 Southwest Bend residents, or 42.7%, live above that level. By land area, 40.6% of Southwest Bend is above 55 dBA.
See how noise in Southwest Bend compares to similar-sized neighborhoods.
Noise by Part of Southwest Bend
Average noise levels for Southwest Bend residents, grouped by direction from the center of Southwest Bend. The highest population-weighted average is in northeastern Southwest Bend; the lowest is in southwestern Southwest Bend, where just 22% of residents live in blocks above the EPA's 55 dBA threshold, about half the share in the loudest section.
Northeastern Southwest Bend
45% of people above 55 dBA
Southeastern Southwest Bend
37% of people above 55 dBA
Northern Southwest Bend
34% of people above 55 dBA
Southern Southwest Bend
13% of people above 55 dBA
Southwestern Southwest Bend
22% of people above 55 dBA
To the human ear, noise in northeastern Southwest Bend sounds about 39% louder than in southwestern Southwest Bend, a 4.8 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 US Route 97 do you need to be?
US Route 97 produces an estimated 66 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 23% of Southwest Bend sits under tree canopy (heavier than most 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.