This map shows modeled outdoor noise across Third Ward 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 2,101 Third Ward residents, or 42.3%, live above that level. By land area, 50.7% of Third Ward is above 55 dBA.
See how noise in Third Ward compares to similar-sized neighborhoods.
Noise by Part of Third Ward
Average noise levels for Third Ward residents, grouped by direction from the center of Third Ward. Southern Third Ward carries the highest population-weighted average; Central Third Ward carries the lowest. Just 24% of residents in Central Third Ward live in blocks above the EPA's 55 dBA threshold, a third of the share in Southern Third Ward.
Central Third Ward
24% of people above 55 dBA
Eastern Third Ward
40% of people above 55 dBA
Northern Third Ward
80% of people above 55 dBA
Southern Third Ward
75% of people above 55 dBA
Western Third Ward
40% of people above 55 dBA
Southern Third Ward sounds about 185% louder than Central Third Ward to the human ear, a 15.1 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 do you need to be?
produces an estimated 69 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 18% of Third Ward sits under tree canopy (about average for neighborhoods) and roughly 44% 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.