This map shows modeled outdoor noise across West Leominster 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 2,094 West Leominster residents, or 65.6%, live above that level. By land area, 64.7% of West Leominster is above 55 dBA.
See how noise in West Leominster compares to similar-sized neighborhoods.
Noise by Part of West Leominster
Average noise levels for West Leominster residents, grouped by direction from the center of West Leominster. The highest population-weighted average is in northern West Leominster; the lowest is in southern West Leominster, where just 38% of residents live in blocks above the EPA's 55 dBA threshold, about half the share in the loudest section.
Northern West Leominster
76% of people above 55 dBA
Central West Leominster
59% of people above 55 dBA
Southwestern West Leominster
40% of people above 55 dBA
Southeastern West Leominster
45% of people above 55 dBA
Southern West Leominster
38% of people above 55 dBA
To the human ear, noise in northern West Leominster sounds about 79% louder than in southern West Leominster, a 8.4 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 Mass State Hwy do you need to be?
Mass State Hwy produces an estimated 74 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 44% of West Leominster sits under tree canopy (much heavier than most neighborhoods) and roughly 27% 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.