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The loudest cities in Missouri, ranked by noise exposure
Missouri has 4 cities of 100,000+ residents in the federal transportation-noise ranking. The loudest is Independence, where 4.7% of residents live with 60 dB or louder average-day road, rail and aviation noise; the median Missouri city exposes 4.4% to that level.
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| Missouri # | City | US # | ≥60 dB | ≥70 dB | 45–60 dB | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Independence | 141 | 4.7% | 1% | 36.9% | 116,669 |
| 2 | St. Louis | 148 | 4.6% | 1.2% | 48.7% | 304,709 |
| 3 | Springfield | 171 | 4.3% | 1% | 26.4% | 165,054 |
| 4 | Kansas City | 178 | 4.2% | 1.4% | 33.6% | 478,113 |
Missouri's 4 ranked cities house 1,064,545 residents. Loudest first, by share of residents above 60 dB: Independence (4.7%), St. Louis (4.6%), Springfield (4.3%), Kansas City (4.2%) — down to Kansas City at 4.2%. The median city exposes 4.4%, and 0 of 4 clear the 10% mark. The hardest-hit on the severe 70 dB+ band is Kansas City (1.4% of residents); the most populous, Kansas City at 478,113 residents, lands #178 in the national table with 4.2% above 60 dB. Behind Independence's headline 4.7%, 1% of its residents are in the severe 70 dB+ band and 36.9% 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 Missouri city below for its full census-tract map, then measure your own street with the free live meter.
Which Missouri cities are the noisiest?
By this federal data the noisiest Missouri cities are the same as the loudest, since "noisiest" here means measured road, rail and aviation exposure: Independence, St. Louis, Springfield top the list, led by Independence at 4.7%. The full ranking is in the table above.
Missouri noise: the numbers
- 4 Missouri cities of 100,000+ residents are in the ranking — 21st-most of any state.
- Loudest: Independence at 4.7% of residents above 60 dB (national #141 of 297).
- Highest severe exposure: Kansas City, 1.4% of residents above 70 dB.
- Median Missouri city: 4.4% above 60 dB; 0 of 4 clear 10%.
- Combined population of the 4: 1,064,545 (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.