This map shows modeled outdoor noise across Sunset 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 3 Sunset residents, or 0.3%, live above that level. By land area, 0.2% of Sunset is above 55 dBA.
See how noise in Sunset compares to similar-sized cities.
Noise by Part of Sunset
Average noise levels for Sunset residents, grouped by direction from the center of Sunset. Northern Sunset carries the highest population-weighted average; Southern Sunset carries the lowest. Just 0% of residents in Southern Sunset live in blocks above the EPA's 55 dBA threshold, a fifth of the share in Northern Sunset.
Eastern Sunset
0% of people above 55 dBA
Northern Sunset
1% of people above 55 dBA
Southern Sunset
0% of people above 55 dBA
Western Sunset
0% of people above 55 dBA
Northern Sunset sounds about 85% louder than Southern Sunset to the human ear, a 8.9 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 Gene Mcqueen Rd; do you need to be?
Gene Mcqueen Rd; produces an estimated 52 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 26% of Sunset sits under tree canopy (about average for cities) and roughly 1% 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.