This map shows modeled outdoor noise across Valley View 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 1,589 Valley View residents, or 46.5%, live above that level. By land area, 47.6% of Valley View is above 55 dBA.
See how noise in Valley View compares to similar-sized neighborhoods.
Noise by Part of Valley View
Average noise levels for Valley View residents, grouped by direction from the center of Valley View. The highest population-weighted average is in eastern Valley View; the lowest is in northern Valley View, where just 38% of residents live in blocks above the EPA's 55 dBA threshold, roughly the same as the share in the loudest section.
Eastern Valley View
30% of people above 55 dBA
Southwestern Valley View
56% of people above 55 dBA
Southeastern Valley View
36% of people above 55 dBA
Central Valley View
45% of people above 55 dBA
Northern Valley View
38% of people above 55 dBA
To the human ear, noise in eastern Valley View sounds about 44% louder than in northern Valley View, a 5.3 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 65 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 29% of Valley View sits under tree canopy (heavier than most neighborhoods) and roughly 38% 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.