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The loudest cities in Indiana, ranked by noise exposure
Among Indiana's 3 cities of 100,000 or more residents, Indianapolis is the noisiest: 5.1% of its people live with average-day transportation noise of 60 dB or louder, ranking it #120 of 297 US cities. The typical Indiana city in the list sits at 3.7%.
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| Indiana # | City | US # | ≥60 dB | ≥70 dB | 45–60 dB | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Indianapolis | 120 | 5.1% | 1.2% | 30.3% | 861,435 |
| 2 | Evansville | 213 | 3.7% | 1% | 28% | 121,954 |
| 3 | Fort Wayne | 247 | 3.1% | 0.6% | 31.5% | 233,695 |
Across Indiana, 3 cities of 100,000+ make the measured ranking — 1,217,084 people combined. In order of residents above 60 dB: Indianapolis (5.1%), Evansville (3.7%), Fort Wayne (3.1%), down to Fort Wayne at 3.1%. The midpoint sits at 3.7%, with 0 cities clearing 10%. Indianapolis leads the state for residents in the severe 70 dB+ band at 1.2%. Indianapolis, the biggest of the 3 with 861,435 residents, sits at 5.1% (national #120). Behind Indianapolis's headline 5.1%, 1.2% of its residents are in the severe 70 dB+ band and 30.3% in the moderate 45–60 dB range.
Each figure is a transparent aggregation of the 2020 federal noise map and Census population — no estimation, and no credit for sirens, industry or crowds. Open any Indiana city below for its full census-tract map, then measure your own street with the free live meter.
Which Indiana cities are the noisiest?
By this federal data the noisiest Indiana cities are the same as the loudest, since "noisiest" here means measured road, rail and aviation exposure: Indianapolis, Evansville, Fort Wayne top the list, led by Indianapolis at 5.1%. The full ranking is in the table above.
Indiana noise: the numbers
- 3 Indiana cities of 100,000+ residents are in the ranking — 26th-most of any state.
- Loudest: Indianapolis at 5.1% of residents above 60 dB (national #120 of 297).
- Highest severe exposure: Indianapolis, 1.2% of residents above 70 dB.
- Median Indiana city: 3.7% above 60 dB; 0 of 3 clear 10%.
- Combined population of the 3: 1,217,084 (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.