This map shows modeled outdoor noise across Wright Area 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 1,715 Wright Area residents, or 21.5%, live above that level. By land area, 30.7% of Wright Area is above 55 dBA.
See how noise in Wright Area compares to similar-sized neighborhoods.
Noise by Part of Wright Area
Average noise levels for Wright Area residents, grouped by direction from the center of Wright Area. Northern Wright Area carries the highest population-weighted average; Southern Wright Area carries the lowest. Just 7% of residents in Southern Wright Area live in blocks above the EPA's 55 dBA threshold, a fifth of the share in Northern Wright Area.
Eastern Wright Area
25% of people above 55 dBA
Northern Wright Area
39% of people above 55 dBA
Southern Wright Area
7% of people above 55 dBA
Western Wright Area
14% of people above 55 dBA
Northern Wright Area sounds about 71% louder than Southern Wright Area to the human ear, a 7.7 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 State Rte 12 do you need to be?
State Rte 12 produces an estimated 67 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 4% of Wright Area sits under tree canopy (much lighter 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.