Road & rail noise map for Cowes
Town in Isle of Wight, South East
We analysed 359 postcodes in and around Cowes, Isle of Wight against DEFRA's Strategic Noise Mapping (Round 4, 2022). 21% of them (77) have mapped road noise of 55 dB or more by day, and 0% have mapped rail noise. 79% of postcodes have no mapped road or rail noise at all — though that reflects major-source modelling, not guaranteed quiet. The highest modelled level we found is at PO31 7BU (road noise 60.0–64.9 dB by day).
Noise map of Cowes
How many postcodes are affected?
Road noise
| Band | Day (LAeq,16h) | Night (Lnight) |
|---|---|---|
| 55.0–59.9 dB day · 50.0–54.9 dB night | 16% (57) | 5% (18) |
| 60.0–64.9 dB day · 55.0–59.9 dB night | 6% (20) | 4% (15) |
| 65.0–69.9 dB day · 60.0–64.9 dB night | 0% (0) | 0% (0) |
| 70.0–74.9 dB day · 65.0–69.9 dB night | 0% (0) | 0% (0) |
| 75.0 dB or more day · 70.0 dB or more night | 0% (0) | 0% (0) |
| Below mapped bands / not mapped | 79% | 91% |
Rail noise
| Band | Day (LAeq,16h) | Night (Lnight) |
|---|---|---|
| 55.0–59.9 dB day · 50.0–54.9 dB night | 0% (0) | 0% (0) |
| 60.0–64.9 dB day · 55.0–59.9 dB night | 0% (0) | 0% (0) |
| 65.0–69.9 dB day · 60.0–64.9 dB night | 0% (0) | 0% (0) |
| 70.0–74.9 dB day · 65.0–69.9 dB night | 0% (0) | 0% (0) |
| 75.0 dB or more day · 70.0 dB or more night | 0% (0) | 0% (0) |
| Below mapped bands / not mapped | 100% | 100% |
Share of the 359 postcodes within ~5 km of the Cowes centre. Source: DEFRA Strategic Noise Mapping Round 4 (2022), Open Government Licence.
Noisiest postcodes in and around Cowes
Check a specific postcode
Example searches: PO31 7DT · PO31 7EA · PO31 7BT · PO31 7BU · PO31 7DX · PO31 7GD
What this data does — and doesn't — cover
- Modelled, not measured.These are DEFRA's computer-modelled estimates (Round 4, 2022), not microphone readings at your door.
- Major sources only. The model covers major roads, major railways and large urban areas. Smaller local roads, neighbours, pubs, building sites and aircraft are not included.
- No mapped noise ≠ quiet. If a location shows no band, it means it falls outside the mapped contours — not that it is silent.
- 2022 snapshot.New roads, developments or traffic changes since 2022 won't show. The next DEFRA round is due around 2027.
More detail on the methodology page.
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Nearby areas
Frequently asked questions
- How noisy is Cowes?
- We analysed 359 postcodes in and around Cowes, Isle of Wight against DEFRA's Strategic Noise Mapping (Round 4, 2022). 21% of them (77) have mapped road noise of 55 dB or more by day, and 0% have mapped rail noise. 79% of postcodes have no mapped road or rail noise at all — though that reflects major-source modelling, not guaranteed quiet. The highest modelled level we found is at PO31 7BU (road noise 60.0–64.9 dB by day).
- Where is the most road noise in Cowes?
- The postcodes with the highest modelled daytime levels in and around Cowes are PO31 7BU, PO31 7EA, PO31 7PB, based on DEFRA's 2022 model of major roads and railways.