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The loudest cities in Washington, ranked by noise exposure
Among Washington's 7 cities of 100,000 or more residents, Seattle is the noisiest: 5.8% of its people live with average-day transportation noise of 60 dB or louder, ranking it #85 of 297 US cities. The typical Washington city in the list sits at 4.8%.
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| Washington # | City | US # | ≥60 dB | ≥70 dB | 45–60 dB | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle | 85 | 5.8% | 1.2% | 51.6% | 741,171 |
| 2 | Everett | 105 | 5.2% | 1.2% | 42.6% | 109,923 |
| 3 | Vancouver | 111 | 5.2% | 1.3% | 40.2% | 175,285 |
| 4 | Kent | 134 | 4.8% | 1% | 35.4% | 115,108 |
| 5 | Tacoma | 160 | 4.5% | 1.2% | 34.8% | 218,386 |
| 6 | Spokane | 232 | 3.4% | 0.4% | 27.1% | 211,655 |
| 7 | Bellevue | 244 | 3.2% | 1% | 15.6% | 150,969 |
Across Washington, 7 cities of 100,000+ make the measured ranking — 1,722,497 people combined. In order of residents above 60 dB: Seattle (5.8%), Everett (5.2%), Vancouver (5.2%), Kent (4.8%), Tacoma (4.5%), Spokane (3.4%), Bellevue (3.2%), down to Bellevue at 3.2%. The midpoint sits at 4.8%, with 0 cities clearing 10%. Vancouver leads the state for residents in the severe 70 dB+ band at 1.3%. Seattle, the biggest of the 7 with 741,171 residents, sits at 5.8% (national #85). Behind Seattle's headline 5.8%, 1.2% of its residents are in the severe 70 dB+ band and 51.6% in the moderate 45–60 dB range.
These are measured federal values, not estimates — the US DOT's 2020 transportation-noise map over Census population, tract by tract, counting road, rail and aviation only. Open any Washington city below for its full census-tract map, then measure your own street with the free live meter.
Which Washington cities are the noisiest?
By this federal data the noisiest Washington cities are the same as the loudest, since "noisiest" here means measured road, rail and aviation exposure: Seattle, Everett, Vancouver top the list, led by Seattle at 5.8%. The full ranking is in the table above.
Washington noise: the numbers
- 7 Washington cities of 100,000+ residents are in the ranking — 10th-most of any state.
- Loudest: Seattle at 5.8% of residents above 60 dB (national #85 of 297).
- Highest severe exposure: Vancouver, 1.3% of residents above 70 dB.
- Median Washington city: 4.8% above 60 dB; 0 of 7 clear 10%.
- Combined population of the 7: 1,722,497 (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.