The loudest cities in Iowa, ranked by noise exposure

Iowa's 3 ranked cities house 416,984 residents. Loudest first, by share of residents above 60 dB: Cedar Rapids (4.7%), Des Moines (3.9%), Davenport (3.8%) — down to Davenport at 3.8%. The median city exposes 3.9%, and 0 of 3 clear the 10% mark. The hardest-hit on the severe 70 dB+ band is Cedar Rapids (1.3% of residents); the most populous, Des Moines at 209,337 residents, lands #199 in the national table with 3.9% above 60 dB. Behind Cedar Rapids's headline 4.7%, 1.3% of its residents are in the severe 70 dB+ band and 24.9% 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 Iowa city below for its full census-tract map, then measure your own street with the free live meter.

Which Iowa cities are the noisiest?

By this federal data the noisiest Iowa cities are the same as the loudest, since "noisiest" here means measured road, rail and aviation exposure: Cedar Rapids, Des Moines, Davenport top the list, led by Cedar Rapids at 4.7%. The full ranking is in the table above.

Iowa noise: the numbers

• 3 Iowa cities of 100,000+ residents are in the ranking — 27th-most of any state.
• Loudest: Cedar Rapids at 4.7% of residents above 60 dB (national #139 of 297).
• Highest severe exposure: Cedar Rapids, 1.3% of residents above 70 dB.
• Median Iowa city: 3.9% above 60 dB; 0 of 3 clear 10%.
• Combined population of the 3: 416,984 (ACS 2016–2020).