This map shows modeled outdoor noise across Stone Meadows 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 2,348 Stone Meadows residents, or 48.7%, live above that level. By land area, 48.6% of Stone Meadows is above 55 dBA.
See how noise in Stone Meadows compares to similar-sized neighborhoods.
Noise by Part of Stone Meadows
Average noise levels for Stone Meadows residents, grouped by direction from the center of Stone Meadows. The highest population-weighted average is in northeastern Stone Meadows; the lowest is in southwestern Stone Meadows, where just 12% of residents live in blocks above the EPA's 55 dBA threshold, about half the share in the loudest section.
Northeastern Stone Meadows
34% of people above 55 dBA
Northern Stone Meadows
36% of people above 55 dBA
Central Stone Meadows
45% of people above 55 dBA
Southern Stone Meadows
52% of people above 55 dBA
Southwestern Stone Meadows
12% of people above 55 dBA
To the human ear, noise in northeastern Stone Meadows sounds about 166% louder than in southwestern Stone Meadows, a 14.1 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 State Rte 99 do you need to be?
State Rte 99 produces an estimated 77 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 2% of Stone Meadows sits under tree canopy (much lighter than most neighborhoods) and roughly 52% 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.