Plains, MT Noise Levels
Noise levels in Plains, MT
BTS only publishes Plains, MT 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 rail traffic, well ahead of the other two modes BTS tracks. Plains's reading comes from a single sampled point, not a block-by-block sweep, so a specific address here could genuinely differ.
Where Plains'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 Plains
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. 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 Plains compares nationally
Plains ranks 283 of 3,622 measured places nationally, 1 being the loudest this dataset covers. Population is about 1,244, 9,451th largest of the 12,137 places covered here.
Checking one address in Plains
Plains's figure above is a town-wide reading. For one exact address, BTS's own map is the free, authoritative source.
Where Plains'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.