This map shows modeled outdoor noise across Temescal 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 5,537 Temescal Valley residents, or 24.2%, live above that level. By land area, 34.4% of Temescal Valley is above 55 dBA.
See how noise in Temescal Valley compares to similar-sized cities.
Noise by Part of Temescal Valley
Average noise levels for Temescal Valley residents, grouped by direction from the center of Temescal Valley. The highest population-weighted average is in central Temescal Valley; the lowest is in southern Temescal Valley, where just 12% of residents live in blocks above the EPA's 55 dBA threshold, a third of the share in the loudest section.
Central Temescal Valley
39% of people above 55 dBA
Northeastern Temescal Valley
7% of people above 55 dBA
Southeastern Temescal Valley
16% of people above 55 dBA
Western Temescal Valley
8% of people above 55 dBA
Southern Temescal Valley
12% of people above 55 dBA
To the human ear, noise in central Temescal Valley sounds about 317% louder than in southern Temescal Valley, a 20.6 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 I-15 do you need to be?
I-15 produces an estimated 78 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 quiet suburban street at night.
Calculated from the model's calibrated attenuation formula. About 6% of Temescal Valley sits under tree canopy (much lighter than most cities) and roughly 40% 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.