The loudest cities in South Carolina, ranked by noise exposure

South Carolina's 3 ranked cities house 382,903 residents. Loudest first, by share of residents above 60 dB: North Charleston (9.6%), Columbia (4.1%), Charleston (2.8%) — down to Charleston at 2.8%. The median city exposes 4.1%, and 0 of 3 clear the 10% mark. The hardest-hit on the severe 70 dB+ band is North Charleston (1.9% of residents); the most populous, Charleston at 150,550 residents, lands #262 in the national table with 2.8% above 60 dB. Behind North Charleston's headline 9.6%, 1.9% of its residents are in the severe 70 dB+ band and 61.3% 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 South Carolina city below for its full census-tract map, then measure your own street with the free live meter.

Which South Carolina cities are the noisiest?

By this federal data the noisiest South Carolina cities are the same as the loudest, since "noisiest" here means measured road, rail and aviation exposure: North Charleston, Columbia, Charleston top the list, led by North Charleston at 9.6%. The full ranking is in the table above.

South Carolina noise: the numbers

• 3 South Carolina cities of 100,000+ residents are in the ranking — 29th-most of any state.
• Loudest: North Charleston at 9.6% of residents above 60 dB (national #17 of 297).
• Highest severe exposure: North Charleston, 1.9% of residents above 70 dB.
• Median South Carolina city: 4.1% above 60 dB; 0 of 3 clear 10%.
• Combined population of the 3: 382,903 (ACS 2016–2020).