Watkins, MN Noise Levels
How loud is Watkins, MN?
At 52.5 dB(A), Watkins, MN 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. This describes Watkins as a whole, not a specific block, the underlying BTS map resolves to about 38 meters per pixel, sampled at the town's own center point.
Where Watkins'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 Watkins
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 Watkins compares nationally
Watkins ranks 1,616 of 3,622 measured places nationally, 1 being the loudest this dataset covers. About 1,010 people live there, making it the 10,208th largest place in this dataset.
Checking one address in Watkins
Nothing here substitutes for checking one address in Watkins directly, and BTS's own map lets anyone do that at no cost.
Watkins's number isn't a one-off calculation, it comes from the same method covered 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.