This map shows modeled outdoor noise across Westhill 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 1,081 Westhill residents, or 29.3%, live above that level. By land area, 43.9% of Westhill is above 55 dBA.
See how noise in Westhill compares to similar-sized neighborhoods.
Noise by Part of Westhill
Average noise levels for Westhill residents, grouped by direction from the center of Westhill. Southern Westhill carries the highest population-weighted average; Northern Westhill carries the lowest. Just 21% of residents in Northern Westhill live in blocks above the EPA's 55 dBA threshold, about two-thirds of the share in Southern Westhill.
Central Westhill
34% of people above 55 dBA
Eastern Westhill
37% of people above 55 dBA
Northern Westhill
21% of people above 55 dBA
Southern Westhill
36% of people above 55 dBA
Western Westhill
33% of people above 55 dBA
Southern Westhill sounds about 61% louder than Northern Westhill to the human ear, a 6.9 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 Airport Blvd do you need to be?
Airport Blvd produces an estimated 63 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 38% of Westhill sits under tree canopy (much heavier than most neighborhoods) and roughly 48% 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.