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The loudest cities in New Jersey, ranked by noise exposure
Among New Jersey's 4 cities of 100,000 or more residents, Elizabeth is the noisiest: 13.8% of its people live with average-day transportation noise of 60 dB or louder, ranking it #2 of 297 US cities. The typical New Jersey city in the list sits at 7.1%.
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| New Jersey # | City | US # | ≥60 dB | ≥70 dB | 45–60 dB | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Elizabeth | 2 | 13.8% | 1.7% | 86.1% | 124,099 |
| 2 | Newark | 24 | 8.9% | 1.5% | 81.9% | 281,917 |
| 3 | Jersey City | 104 | 5.3% | 1.2% | 70.9% | 250,269 |
| 4 | Paterson | 122 | 5% | 1.3% | 60.2% | 145,484 |
Across New Jersey, 4 cities of 100,000+ make the measured ranking — 801,769 people combined. In order of residents above 60 dB: Elizabeth (13.8%), Newark (8.9%), Jersey City (5.3%), Paterson (5%), down to Paterson at 5%. The midpoint sits at 7.1%, with 1 city clearing 10%. Elizabeth leads the state for residents in the severe 70 dB+ band at 1.7%. Newark, the biggest of the 4 with 281,917 residents, sits at 8.9% (national #24). Behind Elizabeth's headline 13.8%, 1.7% of its residents are in the severe 70 dB+ band and 86.1% in the moderate 45–60 dB range.
All of it is measured: the BTS 2020 noise map over ACS 2016–2020 population, aggregated to each city by the University of Washington, covering road, rail and aviation. Open any New Jersey city below for its full census-tract map, then measure your own street with the free live meter.
Which New Jersey cities are the noisiest?
By this federal data the noisiest New Jersey cities are the same as the loudest, since "noisiest" here means measured road, rail and aviation exposure: Elizabeth, Newark, Jersey City top the list, led by Elizabeth at 13.8%. The full ranking is in the table above.
New Jersey noise: the numbers
- 4 New Jersey cities of 100,000+ residents are in the ranking — 22nd-most of any state.
- Loudest: Elizabeth at 13.8% of residents above 60 dB (national #2 of 297).
- Highest severe exposure: Elizabeth, 1.7% of residents above 70 dB.
- Median New Jersey city: 7.1% above 60 dB; 1 of 4 clear 10%.
- Combined population of the 4: 801,769 (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.