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The loudest cities in Idaho, ranked by noise exposure
Among Idaho's 2 cities of 100,000 or more residents, Boise City is the noisiest: 2.1% of its people live with average-day transportation noise of 60 dB or louder, ranking it #280 of 297 US cities. The typical Idaho city in the list sits at 2%.
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| Idaho # | City | US # | ≥60 dB | ≥70 dB | 45–60 dB | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boise City | 280 | 2.1% | 0.4% | 31.8% | 213,107 |
| 2 | Meridian | 288 | 1.8% | 0.4% | 13.5% | 104,699 |
Across Idaho, 2 cities of 100,000+ make the measured ranking — 317,806 people combined. In order of residents above 60 dB: Boise City (2.1%), Meridian (1.8%), down to Meridian at 1.8%. The midpoint sits at 2%, with 0 cities clearing 10%. Boise City leads the state for residents in the severe 70 dB+ band at 0.4%. Boise City, the biggest of the 2 with 213,107 residents, sits at 2.1% (national #280). Behind Boise City's headline 2.1%, 0.4% of its residents are in the severe 70 dB+ band and 31.8% in the moderate 45–60 dB range.
The numbers come straight from the 2020 federal noise model and Census counts at census-tract level — transportation sources only, so construction and nightlife are invisible here. Open any Idaho city below for its full census-tract map, then measure your own street with the free live meter.
Which Idaho cities are the noisiest?
By this federal data the noisiest Idaho cities are the same as the loudest, since "noisiest" here means measured road, rail and aviation exposure: Boise City, Meridian top the list, led by Boise City at 2.1%. The full ranking is in the table above.
Idaho noise: the numbers
- 2 Idaho cities of 100,000+ residents are in the ranking — 31st-most of any state.
- Loudest: Boise City at 2.1% of residents above 60 dB (national #280 of 297).
- Highest severe exposure: Boise City, 0.4% of residents above 70 dB.
- Median Idaho city: 2% above 60 dB; 0 of 2 clear 10%.
- Combined population of the 2: 317,806 (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.