Clear Lake, MN Noise Levels
Noise levels in Clear Lake, MN
BTS only publishes Clear Lake, MN in the 70-79.9 dB(A) band, which straddles HUD's own dividing line: depending on exactly where in that range the true 24-hour average falls, this reads as "Normally Unacceptable" (65-75 dB(A)) or "Unacceptable" (above 75 dB(A)) under 24 CFR 51.104. The main source is rail traffic, well ahead of the other two modes BTS tracks. Clear Lake's reading comes from a single sampled point, not a block-by-block sweep, so a specific address here could genuinely differ.
Where Clear Lake'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 Clear Lake
That also clears FHWA's own 66 dB(A) impact threshold for residential land use (23 CFR 772, Table 1), the level highway agencies use to decide whether a new road needs a sound wall. 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 Clear Lake compares nationally
Clear Lake ranks 73 of 3,622 measured places nationally, 1 being the loudest this dataset covers. About 679 people live there, making it the 11,955th largest place in this dataset.
Checking one address in Clear Lake
Clear Lake's figure above is a town-wide reading. For one exact address, BTS's own map is the free, authoritative source.
Where Clear Lake'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.