This map shows modeled outdoor noise across Sun Valley 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 163 Sun Valley residents, or 8.0%, live above that level. By land area, 9.1% of Sun Valley is above 55 dBA.
See how noise in Sun Valley compares to similar-sized cities.
Noise by Part of Sun Valley
Average noise levels for Sun Valley residents, grouped by direction from the center of Sun Valley. Southern Sun Valley carries the highest population-weighted average; Western Sun Valley carries the lowest. Just 0% of residents in Western Sun Valley live in blocks above the EPA's 55 dBA threshold, a fifth of the share in Southern Sun Valley.
Eastern Sun Valley
9% of people above 55 dBA
Northern Sun Valley
2% of people above 55 dBA
Southern Sun Valley
12% of people above 55 dBA
Western Sun Valley
0% of people above 55 dBA
Southern Sun Valley sounds about 261% louder than Western Sun Valley to the human ear, a 18.5 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 Trl Creek do you need to be?
Trl Creek produces an estimated 53 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 8% of Sun Valley sits under tree canopy (lighter than most cities) and roughly 11% 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.