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The loudest cities in Oklahoma, ranked by noise exposure
Among Oklahoma's 4 cities of 100,000 or more residents, Tulsa is the noisiest: 3.7% of its people live with average-day transportation noise of 60 dB or louder, ranking it #208 of 297 US cities. The typical Oklahoma city in the list sits at 2.2%.
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| Oklahoma # | City | US # | ≥60 dB | ≥70 dB | 45–60 dB | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tulsa | 208 | 3.7% | 1.3% | 36.5% | 406,402 |
| 2 | Oklahoma City | 270 | 2.5% | 0.8% | 29.8% | 649,726 |
| 3 | Norman | 290 | 1.8% | 0.4% | 21.9% | 124,323 |
| 4 | Broken Arrow | 296 | 1.2% | 0.4% | 8.3% | 107,404 |
Across Oklahoma, 4 cities of 100,000+ make the measured ranking — 1,287,855 people combined. In order of residents above 60 dB: Tulsa (3.7%), Oklahoma City (2.5%), Norman (1.8%), Broken Arrow (1.2%), down to Broken Arrow at 1.2%. The midpoint sits at 2.2%, with 0 cities clearing 10%. Tulsa leads the state for residents in the severe 70 dB+ band at 1.3%. Oklahoma City, the biggest of the 4 with 649,726 residents, sits at 2.5% (national #270). Behind Tulsa's headline 3.7%, 1.3% of its residents are in the severe 70 dB+ band and 36.5% 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 Oklahoma city below for its full census-tract map, then measure your own street with the free live meter.
Which Oklahoma cities are the noisiest?
By this federal data the noisiest Oklahoma cities are the same as the loudest, since "noisiest" here means measured road, rail and aviation exposure: Tulsa, Oklahoma City, Norman top the list, led by Tulsa at 3.7%. The full ranking is in the table above.
Oklahoma noise: the numbers
- 4 Oklahoma cities of 100,000+ residents are in the ranking — 23rd-most of any state.
- Loudest: Tulsa at 3.7% of residents above 60 dB (national #208 of 297).
- Highest severe exposure: Tulsa, 1.3% of residents above 70 dB.
- Median Oklahoma city: 2.2% above 60 dB; 0 of 4 clear 10%.
- Combined population of the 4: 1,287,855 (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.