This map shows modeled outdoor noise across Stillwater 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 474 Stillwater residents, or 11.0%, live above that level. By land area, 12.1% of Stillwater is above 55 dBA.
See how noise in Stillwater compares to similar-sized cities.
Noise by Part of Stillwater
Average noise levels for Stillwater residents, grouped by direction from the center of Stillwater. The highest population-weighted average is in southeastern Stillwater; the lowest is in northwestern Stillwater, where just 2% of residents live in blocks above the EPA's 55 dBA threshold, a third of the share in the loudest section.
Southeastern Stillwater
9% of people above 55 dBA
Southern Stillwater
6% of people above 55 dBA
Southwestern Stillwater
3% of people above 55 dBA
Northern Stillwater
2% of people above 55 dBA
Northwestern Stillwater
2% of people above 55 dBA
To the human ear, noise in southeastern Stillwater sounds about 44% louder than in northwestern Stillwater, a 5.3 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 Hudson Ave do you need to be?
Hudson Ave produces an estimated 59 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 47% of Stillwater sits under tree canopy (heavier than most cities) and roughly 17% 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.