Ephrata, PA Noise Levels
Noise levels in Ephrata, PA
BTS only publishes Ephrata, PA in the 60-69.9 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 "Acceptable" (65 dB(A) or below) or "Normally Unacceptable" (65-75 dB(A)) under 24 CFR 51.104. The main source is road traffic, well ahead of the other two modes BTS tracks. That's the reading at Ephrata's Census-defined center point, not any one street, BTS's map is a live raster, not a per-address service.
Where Ephrata'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 Ephrata
Depending on where in that band the true value sits, it may also clear FHWA's 66 dB(A) residential impact threshold (23 CFR 772, Table 1), the trigger highway agencies use for sound-wall decisions. Upgraded windows, door seals and STC-rated glazing meaningfully cut broadband, near-continuous road noise.
How Ephrata compares nationally
Ephrata ranks 145 of 3,622 measured places nationally, 1 being the loudest this dataset covers. By population, it ranks 2,558 of the 12,137 places in this dataset, home to about 13,719 people.
Checking one address in Ephrata
Ephrata's figure above is a town-wide reading. For one exact address, BTS's own map is the free, authoritative source.
Where Ephrata'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 road traffic calls for a different fix than the other two sources.