This map shows modeled outdoor noise across West Elmira 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 753 West Elmira residents, or 16.5%, live above that level. By land area, 20.6% of West Elmira is above 55 dBA.
See how noise in West Elmira compares to similar-sized cities.
Noise by Part of West Elmira
Average noise levels for West Elmira residents, grouped by direction from the center of West Elmira. Central West Elmira carries the highest population-weighted average; Northern West Elmira carries the lowest. Just 10% of residents in Northern West Elmira live in blocks above the EPA's 55 dBA threshold, about half the share in Central West Elmira.
Central West Elmira
20% of people above 55 dBA
Eastern West Elmira
21% of people above 55 dBA
Northern West Elmira
10% of people above 55 dBA
Southern West Elmira
10% of people above 55 dBA
Western West Elmira
17% of people above 55 dBA
Central West Elmira sounds about 47% louder than Northern West Elmira to the human ear, 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 W Church St Np 352 do you need to be?
W Church St Np 352 produces an estimated 62 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 41% of West Elmira sits under tree canopy (heavier than most cities) and roughly 19% 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.