This map shows modeled outdoor noise across Tarpley 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 Tarpley residents, or 1.0%, live above that level. By land area, 2.3% of Tarpley is above 55 dBA.
See how noise in Tarpley compares to similar-sized cities.
Noise by Part of Tarpley
Average noise levels for Tarpley residents, grouped by direction from the center of Tarpley. Northern Tarpley carries the highest population-weighted average; Central Tarpley carries the lowest. Just 0% of residents in Central Tarpley live in blocks above the EPA's 55 dBA threshold, a fifth of the share in Northern Tarpley.
Central Tarpley
0% of people above 55 dBA
Eastern Tarpley
0% of people above 55 dBA
Northern Tarpley
5% of people above 55 dBA
Southern Tarpley
0% of people above 55 dBA
Western Tarpley
0% of people above 55 dBA
Northern Tarpley sounds about 143% louder than Central Tarpley to the human ear, a 12.8 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 A343 do you need to be?
A343 produces an estimated 55 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 24% of Tarpley 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.