Upper West Side-Manhattan Valley noise map: how loud is it?

Upper West Side-Manhattan Valley is home to about 39,739 residents across 11 census tracts. 6.6% of them are exposed to 60 dB or more of average-day road, rail and aviation noise. Within that, 0.8% face the most severe band — 70 dB or louder, the level at which sustained exposure starts to threaten hearing. A further 69.1% sit in the 45–60 dB band — a noticeable background hum rather than a hearing risk. That ranks Upper West Side-Manhattan Valley #87 of 197 New York neighborhoods, louder than most New York neighborhoods. Among New York neighborhoods it sits just below Annadale-Huguenot-Prince's Bay-Woodrow (#86) and just above Westerleigh-Castleton Corners (#88).

Exposure across Upper West Side-Manhattan Valley is a patchwork. The streets that back onto a freeway, rail line or flight path carry most of the 6.6%, while interior blocks a few hundred feet away can sit 15 to 25 dB quieter. The map makes that split easy to see.

Upper West Side-Manhattan Valley noise: the specifics

• Ranks #87 of 197 New York neighborhoods by share of residents exposed to ≥60 dB transportation noise.
• 6.6% of Upper West Side-Manhattan Valley's ~39,739 residents live with 60 dB or louder average-day transportation noise.
• 0.8% are in the severe 70 dB+ band; 69.1% sit in the 45–60 dB moderate range.
• Area-weighted across 11 census tracts from the federal BTS 2020 noise map × ACS 2016–2020 population.
• #87 of 197 — see the full New York ranking.