Road & rail noise map for Durham
City in County Durham, North East
We analysed 1,880 postcodes in and around Durham, County Durham against DEFRA's Strategic Noise Mapping (Round 4, 2022). 33% of them (616) have mapped road noise of 55 dB or more by day, and 1% have mapped rail noise. 67% 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 DH1 4DD (road noise 70.0–74.9 dB by day).
Noise map of Durham
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 | 15% (291) | 5% (92) |
| 60.0–64.9 dB day · 55.0–59.9 dB night | 13% (247) | 9% (167) |
| 65.0–69.9 dB day · 60.0–64.9 dB night | 4% (74) | 2% (40) |
| 70.0–74.9 dB day · 65.0–69.9 dB night | <1% (4) | 0% (0) |
| 75.0 dB or more day · 70.0 dB or more night | 0% (0) | 0% (0) |
| Below mapped bands / not mapped | 67% | 84% |
Rail noise
| Band | Day (LAeq,16h) | Night (Lnight) |
|---|---|---|
| 55.0–59.9 dB day · 50.0–54.9 dB night | <1% (14) | <1% (10) |
| 60.0–64.9 dB day · 55.0–59.9 dB night | <1% (6) | <1% (2) |
| 65.0–69.9 dB day · 60.0–64.9 dB night | <1% (1) | 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 | 99% | 99% |
Share of the 1,880 postcodes within ~5 km of the Durham centre. Source: DEFRA Strategic Noise Mapping Round 4 (2022), Open Government Licence.
Noisiest postcodes in and around Durham
Check a specific postcode
Example searches: DH1 4PD · DH7 8LZ · DH1 3QN · DH1 4DD · DH1 1QG · DH1 1QT
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 Durham?
- We analysed 1,880 postcodes in and around Durham, County Durham against DEFRA's Strategic Noise Mapping (Round 4, 2022). 33% of them (616) have mapped road noise of 55 dB or more by day, and 1% have mapped rail noise. 67% 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 DH1 4DD (road noise 70.0–74.9 dB by day).
- Where is the most road noise in Durham?
- The postcodes with the highest modelled daytime levels in and around Durham are DH1 4DD, DH1 4PD, DH1 3QN, based on DEFRA's 2022 model of major roads and railways.