This map shows modeled outdoor noise across West End 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 1,811 West End residents, or 53.6%, live above that level. By land area, 48.0% of West End is above 55 dBA.
See how noise in West End compares to similar-sized neighborhoods.
Noise by Part of West End
Average noise levels for West End residents, grouped by direction from the center of West End. The highest population-weighted average is in northern West End; the lowest is in northwestern West End, where just 17% of residents live in blocks above the EPA's 55 dBA threshold, a third of the share in the loudest section.
Northern West End
53% of people above 55 dBA
Northeastern West End
70% of people above 55 dBA
Central West End
54% of people above 55 dBA
Southwestern West End
6% of people above 55 dBA
Northwestern West End
17% of people above 55 dBA
To the human ear, noise in northern West End sounds about 214% louder than in northwestern West End, a 16.5 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 do you need to be?
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 42% of West End sits under tree canopy (much heavier than most 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.