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The loudest cities in Arizona, ranked by noise exposure
Arizona has 10 cities of 100,000+ residents in the federal transportation-noise ranking — the 4th-most of any state. The loudest is Tempe, where 9.3% of residents live with 60 dB or louder average-day road, rail and aviation noise; the median Arizona city exposes 5.5% to that level.
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| Arizona # | City | US # | ≥60 dB | ≥70 dB | 45–60 dB | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tempe | 19 | 9.3% | 1.9% | 43.6% | 190,513 |
| 2 | Phoenix | 63 | 6.5% | 1.1% | 28.7% | 1,648,739 |
| 3 | Mesa | 65 | 6.4% | 1.1% | 42.2% | 497,973 |
| 4 | Chandler | 74 | 6.1% | 1% | 37.8% | 253,979 |
| 5 | Tucson | 98 | 5.5% | 0.4% | 30.8% | 525,777 |
| 6 | Glendale | 99 | 5.5% | 0.6% | 18.5% | 252,246 |
| 7 | Scottsdale | 102 | 5.3% | 0.7% | 27.8% | 241,030 |
| 8 | Gilbert | 131 | 4.8% | 0.4% | 25% | 238,079 |
| 9 | Peoria | 149 | 4.6% | 0.7% | 17.7% | 177,465 |
| 10 | Surprise | 233 | 3.4% | 0.4% | 14.4% | 134,494 |
Arizona's 10 ranked cities house 4,160,295 residents. Loudest first, by share of residents above 60 dB: Tempe (9.3%), Phoenix (6.5%), Mesa (6.4%), Chandler (6.1%), Tucson (5.5%), Glendale (5.5%), Scottsdale (5.3%), Gilbert (4.8%), then 2 more — down to Surprise at 3.4%. The median city exposes 5.5%, and 0 of 10 clear the 10% mark. The hardest-hit on the severe 70 dB+ band is Tempe (1.9% of residents); the most populous, Phoenix at 1,648,739 residents, lands #63 in the national table with 6.5% above 60 dB. Behind Tempe's headline 9.3%, 1.9% of its residents are in the severe 70 dB+ band and 43.6% in the moderate 45–60 dB range.
Every share is rolled up from per-city tract data: the 2020 BTS noise map paired with ACS population, road plus rail plus aviation, nothing modeled by us. Open any Arizona city below for its full census-tract map, then measure your own street with the free live meter.
Which Arizona cities are the noisiest?
By this federal data the noisiest Arizona cities are the same as the loudest, since "noisiest" here means measured road, rail and aviation exposure: Tempe, Phoenix, Mesa top the list, led by Tempe at 9.3%. The full ranking is in the table above.
Arizona noise: the numbers
- 10 Arizona cities of 100,000+ residents are in the ranking — 4th-most of any state.
- Loudest: Tempe at 9.3% of residents above 60 dB (national #19 of 297).
- Highest severe exposure: Tempe, 1.9% of residents above 70 dB.
- Median Arizona city: 5.5% above 60 dB; 0 of 10 clear 10%.
- Combined population of the 10: 4,160,295 (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.