This map shows modeled outdoor noise across Walnut Orange Walsh 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 2,833 Walnut Orange Walsh residents, or 47.9%, live above that level. By land area, 50.3% of Walnut Orange Walsh is above 55 dBA.
See how noise in Walnut Orange Walsh compares to similar-sized neighborhoods.
Noise by Part of Walnut Orange Walsh
Average noise levels for Walnut Orange Walsh residents, grouped by direction from the center of Walnut Orange Walsh. The highest population-weighted average is in southern Walnut Orange Walsh; the lowest is in northeastern Walnut Orange Walsh, where just 15% of residents live in blocks above the EPA's 55 dBA threshold, a third of the share in the loudest section.
Southern Walnut Orange Walsh
60% of people above 55 dBA
Southwestern Walnut Orange Walsh
52% of people above 55 dBA
Western Walnut Orange Walsh
44% of people above 55 dBA
Eastern Walnut Orange Walsh
18% of people above 55 dBA
Northeastern Walnut Orange Walsh
15% of people above 55 dBA
To the human ear, noise in southern Walnut Orange Walsh sounds about 169% louder than in northeastern Walnut Orange Walsh, a 14.3 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 68 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 39% of Walnut Orange Walsh sits under tree canopy (much heavier than most neighborhoods) and roughly 45% 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.