This map shows modeled outdoor noise across Washington Village 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 1,590 Washington Village residents, or 34.7%, live above that level. By land area, 41.6% of Washington Village is above 55 dBA.
See how noise in Washington Village compares to similar-sized neighborhoods.
Noise by Part of Washington Village
Average noise levels for Washington Village residents, grouped by direction from the center of Washington Village. Northern Washington Village carries the highest population-weighted average; Southern Washington Village carries the lowest. Just 18% of residents in Southern Washington Village live in blocks above the EPA's 55 dBA threshold, about half the share in Northern Washington Village.
Central Washington Village
40% of people above 55 dBA
Eastern Washington Village
51% of people above 55 dBA
Northern Washington Village
38% of people above 55 dBA
Southern Washington Village
18% of people above 55 dBA
Western Washington Village
25% of people above 55 dBA
Northern Washington Village sounds about 34% louder than Southern Washington Village to the human ear, a 4.2 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 15% of Washington Village sits under tree canopy (about average for neighborhoods) and roughly 40% 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.