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The loudest cities in Maryland, ranked by noise exposure
Among Maryland's 2 cities of 100,000 or more residents, Baltimore is the noisiest: 3.8% of its people live with average-day transportation noise of 60 dB or louder, ranking it #205 of 297 US cities. The typical Maryland city in the list sits at 3.6%.
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| Maryland # | City | US # | ≥60 dB | ≥70 dB | 45–60 dB | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Baltimore | 205 | 3.8% | 0.7% | 38.8% | 602,274 |
| 2 | Columbia | 225 | 3.4% | 1% | 73.3% | 105,106 |
Across Maryland, 2 cities of 100,000+ make the measured ranking — 707,380 people combined. In order of residents above 60 dB: Baltimore (3.8%), Columbia (3.4%), down to Columbia at 3.4%. The midpoint sits at 3.6%, with 0 cities clearing 10%. Columbia leads the state for residents in the severe 70 dB+ band at 1%. Baltimore, the biggest of the 2 with 602,274 residents, sits at 3.8% (national #205). Behind Baltimore's headline 3.8%, 0.7% of its residents are in the severe 70 dB+ band and 38.8% 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 Maryland city below for its full census-tract map, then measure your own street with the free live meter.
Which Maryland cities are the noisiest?
By this federal data the noisiest Maryland cities are the same as the loudest, since "noisiest" here means measured road, rail and aviation exposure: Baltimore, Columbia top the list, led by Baltimore at 3.8%. The full ranking is in the table above.
Maryland noise: the numbers
- 2 Maryland cities of 100,000+ residents are in the ranking — 33rd-most of any state.
- Loudest: Baltimore at 3.8% of residents above 60 dB (national #205 of 297).
- Highest severe exposure: Columbia, 1% of residents above 70 dB.
- Median Maryland city: 3.6% above 60 dB; 0 of 2 clear 10%.
- Combined population of the 2: 707,380 (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.