This map shows modeled outdoor noise across West Longview 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 755 West Longview residents, or 17.1%, live above that level. By land area, 20.9% of West Longview is above 55 dBA.
See how noise in West Longview compares to similar-sized neighborhoods.
Noise by Part of West Longview
Average noise levels for West Longview residents, grouped by direction from the center of West Longview. The highest population-weighted average is in northwestern West Longview; the lowest is in eastern West Longview, where just 8% of residents live in blocks above the EPA's 55 dBA threshold, about half the share in the loudest section.
Northwestern West Longview
20% of people above 55 dBA
Central West Longview
19% of people above 55 dBA
Southeastern West Longview
14% of people above 55 dBA
Western West Longview
7% of people above 55 dBA
Eastern West Longview
8% of people above 55 dBA
To the human ear, noise in northwestern West Longview sounds about 42% louder than in eastern West Longview, a 5.1 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 SR-4 do you need to be?
SR-4 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 6% of West Longview sits under tree canopy (lighter than most neighborhoods) and roughly 49% 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.