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The loudest cities in Alabama, ranked by noise exposure
Among Alabama's 4 cities of 100,000 or more residents, Birmingham is the noisiest: 6.1% of its people live with average-day transportation noise of 60 dB or louder, ranking it #72 of 297 US cities. The typical Alabama city in the list sits at 4.4%.
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| Alabama # | City | US # | ≥60 dB | ≥70 dB | 45–60 dB | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Birmingham | 72 | 6.1% | 1.4% | 51.4% | 204,188 |
| 2 | Huntsville | 159 | 4.5% | 1.1% | 17% | 187,112 |
| 3 | Mobile | 174 | 4.3% | 0.7% | 32.5% | 194,862 |
| 4 | Montgomery | 182 | 4.2% | 1.2% | 17.9% | 183,087 |
Across Alabama, 4 cities of 100,000+ make the measured ranking — 769,249 people combined. In order of residents above 60 dB: Birmingham (6.1%), Huntsville (4.5%), Mobile (4.3%), Montgomery (4.2%), down to Montgomery at 4.2%. The midpoint sits at 4.4%, with 0 cities clearing 10%. Birmingham leads the state for residents in the severe 70 dB+ band at 1.4%. Birmingham, the biggest of the 4 with 204,188 residents, sits at 6.1% (national #72). Behind Birmingham's headline 6.1%, 1.4% of its residents are in the severe 70 dB+ band and 51.4% in the moderate 45–60 dB range.
All of it is measured: the BTS 2020 noise map over ACS 2016–2020 population, aggregated to each city by the University of Washington, covering road, rail and aviation. Open any Alabama city below for its full census-tract map, then measure your own street with the free live meter.
Which Alabama cities are the noisiest?
By this federal data the noisiest Alabama cities are the same as the loudest, since "noisiest" here means measured road, rail and aviation exposure: Birmingham, Huntsville, Mobile top the list, led by Birmingham at 6.1%. The full ranking is in the table above.
Alabama noise: the numbers
- 4 Alabama cities of 100,000+ residents are in the ranking — 20th-most of any state.
- Loudest: Birmingham at 6.1% of residents above 60 dB (national #72 of 297).
- Highest severe exposure: Birmingham, 1.4% of residents above 70 dB.
- Median Alabama city: 4.4% above 60 dB; 0 of 4 clear 10%.
- Combined population of the 4: 769,249 (ACS 2016–2020).
How this ranking is measured
These are the same federal measurements behind the national ranking of all 297 US cities — the BTS 2020 National Transportation Noise Map (road + rail + aviation) overlaid with Census ACS 2016–2020 population at census-tract level, with no estimation by us. Full methodology and the free CSV/JSON are on that page. It counts transportation noise only: sirens, construction and nightlife are outside the model.
How loud is your street?
Rankings describe city averages — your block is its own story. Check it with the free online decibel meter, or open any city above for its full census-tract noise map.