Castle Hill-Unionport noise map: how loud is it?

Castle Hill-Unionport is home to about 38,096 residents across 19 census tracts. 16.2% of them are exposed to 60 dB or more of average-day road, rail and aviation noise. Within that, 7.3% face the most severe band — 70 dB or louder, the level at which sustained exposure starts to threaten hearing. A further 83.8% sit in the 45–60 dB band — a noticeable background hum rather than a hearing risk. That ranks Castle Hill-Unionport #13 of 197 New York neighborhoods, well above the typical New York neighborhood. Among New York neighborhoods it sits just below Sunset Park (West) (#12) and just above Downtown Brooklyn-DUMBO-Boerum Hill (#14).

The exposure is not spread evenly. The 7.3% 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 Castle Hill-Unionport.

Castle Hill-Unionport noise: the specifics

• Ranks #13 of 197 New York neighborhoods by share of residents exposed to ≥60 dB transportation noise.
• 16.2% of Castle Hill-Unionport's ~38,096 residents live with 60 dB or louder average-day transportation noise.
• 7.3% are in the severe 70 dB+ band; 83.8% sit in the 45–60 dB moderate range.
• Area-weighted across 19 census tracts from the federal BTS 2020 noise map × ACS 2016–2020 population.
• #13 of 197 — see the full New York ranking.