Andrey Kamenov, Ph.D. Probability and Statistics

In this post, we continue exploring the noise level data from the National Park Service data store. Today we examine it on the local scale: counties and cities.

Here is an interactive map showing the loudest and quietest counties in every state. Note that you can also zoom to any state to see the average noise level for every county.

Note that counties with virtually no noise (average level below 30 dBA, equivalent to ‘Very Quiet’) are quite rare. Such low noise levels are only encountered in the Mountain states (also in the very east of the Pacific division). The difference is quite astounding actually – the quietest county in New York State is still noisier than the whole of Nevada or Wyoming.

Let’s also compare the noise levels for cities from different size groups.

A few takeaways:

• The noisiest cities are the largest ones (those with a population in excess of 1 million). The quietest among them is Phoenix, AZ at only 47.2 dBA. Chicago, IL is on the other side of the scale – the average noise level here is 54.8 dBA.
• The Anchorage municipality is technically the quietest city with a population greater than 250,000; the average noise level here is 34.5 dB, which is more in line with the numbers encountered in small villages. Bakersfield, CA is as quiet as it gets in the continental U.S. in this category (40 dBA). Milwaukee, WI tops this group at 56.1 dBA.
• The town of Crestone, CO is the quietest town in the entire U.S., averaging 22.7 dBA. And West Allis, WI is the loudest: 58.4 dBA.

Unsurprisingly, smaller cities have lower noise levels on average. The largest city where the amount of noise corresponds to a “rural area” level (below 30 dBA) is Flagstaff, AZ, which has a population of less than 66,000.

Source(s):

• National Park Service Data Store 
• 2010 Census Gazetteer Files

About Andrey Kamenov

Andrey Kamenov, Ph.D. Probability and Statistics

Andrey Kamenov is a data scientist working for Advameg Inc. His background includes teaching statistics, stochastic processes and financial mathematics in Moscow State University and working for a hedge fund. His academic interests range from statistical data analysis to optimal stopping theory. Andrey also enjoys his hobbies of photography, reading and powerlifting.

Other posts by Andrey Kamenov:

• Are people living outside the metro areas cushioned against falling home prices?
• Owners prefer to build small homes outside of metro areas
• Exercise or sleep: which is more important for your health?
• Measuring health levels in the U.S.
• Where to be born in the U.S.