This map shows modeled outdoor noise across White House 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 5 White House residents, or 3.4%, live above that level. By land area, 17.0% of White House is above 55 dBA.
See how noise in White House compares to similar-sized cities.
Noise by Part of White House
Average noise levels for White House residents, grouped by direction from the center of White House. Western White House carries the highest population-weighted average; Southern White House carries the lowest. Just 0% of residents in Southern White House live in blocks above the EPA's 55 dBA threshold, a fifth of the share in Western White House.
Eastern White House
1% of people above 55 dBA
Southern White House
0% of people above 55 dBA
Western White House
5% of people above 55 dBA
Western White House sounds about 458% louder than Southern White House to the human ear, a 24.8 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 Skyline Dr do you need to be?
Skyline Dr produces an estimated 54 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 50% of White House sits under tree canopy (heavier than most cities) and roughly 3% 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.