This map shows modeled outdoor noise across Top Road 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 1,845 Top Road residents, or 49.5%, live above that level. By land area, 49.5% of Top Road is above 55 dBA.
See how noise in Top Road compares to similar-sized neighborhoods.
Noise by Part of Top Road
Average noise levels for Top Road residents, grouped by direction from the center of Top Road. The highest population-weighted average is in central Top Road; the lowest is in eastern Top Road, where just 44% of residents live in blocks above the EPA's 55 dBA threshold, three-quarters of the share in the loudest section.
Central Top Road
56% of people above 55 dBA
Northeastern Top Road
53% of people above 55 dBA
Southwestern Top Road
44% of people above 55 dBA
Western Top Road
44% of people above 55 dBA
Eastern Top Road
44% of people above 55 dBA
To the human ear, noise in central Top Road sounds about 47% louder than in eastern Top Road, a 5.6 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 Trenton Fwy do you need to be?
Trenton Fwy 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 14% of Top Road sits under tree canopy (about average for neighborhoods) and roughly 61% 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.