The loudest cities in Wisconsin, ranked by noise exposure

Wisconsin's 3 ranked cities are home to 953,140 residents. By share above 60 dB the field reads Madison (6.8%), Milwaukee (5.2%), Green Bay (4.2%), ending at Green Bay (4.2%). The median lands at 5.2%, and 0 of 3 sit above the 10% line. Madison carries the state's worst severe exposure — 1.6% of residents above 70 dB, the hearing-risk threshold — while Milwaukee, the largest at 592,951 people, ranks #108 nationally at 5.2%. Behind Madison's headline 6.8%, 1.6% of its residents are in the severe 70 dB+ band and 40.3% 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 Wisconsin city below for its full census-tract map, then measure your own street with the free live meter.

Which Wisconsin cities are the noisiest?

By this federal data the noisiest Wisconsin cities are the same as the loudest, since "noisiest" here means measured road, rail and aviation exposure: Madison, Milwaukee, Green Bay top the list, led by Madison at 6.8%. The full ranking is in the table above.

Wisconsin noise: the numbers

• 3 Wisconsin cities of 100,000+ residents are in the ranking — 30th-most of any state.
• Loudest: Madison at 6.8% of residents above 60 dB (national #56 of 297).
• Highest severe exposure: Madison, 1.6% of residents above 70 dB.
• Median Wisconsin city: 5.2% above 60 dB; 0 of 3 clear 10%.
• Combined population of the 3: 953,140 (ACS 2016–2020).