This map shows modeled outdoor noise across Walnut Hills-Dayton 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 1,864 Walnut Hills-Dayton residents, or 47.8%, live above that level. By land area, 48.0% of Walnut Hills-Dayton is above 55 dBA.
See how noise in Walnut Hills-Dayton compares to similar-sized neighborhoods.
Noise by Part of Walnut Hills-Dayton
Average noise levels for Walnut Hills-Dayton residents, grouped by direction from the center of Walnut Hills-Dayton. Southern Walnut Hills-Dayton carries the highest population-weighted average; Eastern Walnut Hills-Dayton carries the lowest. Just 40% of residents in Eastern Walnut Hills-Dayton live in blocks above the EPA's 55 dBA threshold, three-quarters of the share in Southern Walnut Hills-Dayton.
Central Walnut Hills-Dayton
49% of people above 55 dBA
Eastern Walnut Hills-Dayton
40% of people above 55 dBA
Southern Walnut Hills-Dayton
47% of people above 55 dBA
Western Walnut Hills-Dayton
52% of people above 55 dBA
Southern Walnut Hills-Dayton sounds about 19% louder than Eastern Walnut Hills-Dayton to the human ear, a 2.5 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 Wayne Ave do you need to be?
Wayne Ave produces an estimated 64 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 19% of Walnut Hills-Dayton sits under tree canopy (about average for neighborhoods) and roughly 55% 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.