Near North Side noise map: how loud is it?

Near North Side is home to about 95,024 residents across 29 census tracts. 17.3% of them are exposed to 60 dB or more of average-day road, rail and aviation noise. Within that, 1.7% face the most severe band — 70 dB or louder, the level at which sustained exposure starts to threaten hearing. A further 76.2% sit in the 45–60 dB band — a noticeable background hum rather than a hearing risk. That ranks Near North Side #15 of 77 Chicago neighborhoods, louder than most Chicago neighborhoods. Among Chicago neighborhoods it sits just below Avalon Park (#14) and just above Pullman (#16).

The exposure is not spread evenly. The 1.7% in the 70 dB-plus band are the households packed right against a freeway, rail corridor or flight path, while blocks a few streets inland fall away fast. On the map that reads as a bright ribbon of noise tracing the corridor through Near North Side.

Near North Side noise: the specifics

• Ranks #15 of 77 Chicago neighborhoods by share of residents exposed to ≥60 dB transportation noise.
• 17.3% of Near North Side's ~95,024 residents live with 60 dB or louder average-day transportation noise.
• 1.7% are in the severe 70 dB+ band; 76.2% sit in the 45–60 dB moderate range.
• Area-weighted across 29 census tracts from the federal BTS 2020 noise map × ACS 2016–2020 population.
• #15 of 77 — see the full Chicago ranking.