Chatham, NJ Noise Levels
Noise levels in Chatham, NJ
At 57.5 dB(A), Chatham, NJ falls inside HUD's "Acceptable" noise zone, 65 dB(A) day-night average or below under 24 CFR 51.104, the federal government's own line for building housing with no extra sound attenuation required. The main source is rail traffic, well ahead of the other two modes BTS tracks. That's the reading at Chatham's Census-defined center point, not any one street, BTS's map is a live raster, not a per-address service.
Where Chatham's noise comes from
BTS models these three sources separately before combining them, so a place can be quiet on two and loud on the third.
If you're weighing a move to Chatham
The same window and door upgrades that work on road noise also cut broadband rail noise, though very low-frequency freight rumble travels through walls, not just glass.
How Chatham compares nationally
Chatham ranks 443 of 3,622 measured places nationally, 1 being the loudest this dataset covers. About 10,062 people live there, making it the 3,194th largest place in this dataset.
Checking one address in Chatham
Chatham's figure above is a town-wide reading. For one exact address, BTS's own map is the free, authoritative source.
Where Chatham's figures come from
Every dB(A) figure on this page traces to a named BTS dataset, documented in the methodology guide. The guide to what actually cuts each kind of noise explains why rail traffic calls for a different fix than the other two sources.