Road & rail noise map for Harlow
Town in Essex, Eastern
We analysed 1,804 postcodes in and around Harlow, Essex against DEFRA's Strategic Noise Mapping (Round 4, 2022). 16% of them (292) have mapped road noise of 55 dB or more by day, and <1% have mapped rail noise. 83% 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 CM20 2ET (road noise 65.0–69.9 dB by day).
Noise map of Harlow
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 | 13% (232) | 3% (63) |
| 60.0–64.9 dB day · 55.0–59.9 dB night | 3% (49) | 2% (30) |
| 65.0–69.9 dB day · 60.0–64.9 dB night | <1% (11) | <1% (3) |
| 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 | 84% | 95% |
Rail noise
| Band | Day (LAeq,16h) | Night (Lnight) |
|---|---|---|
| 55.0–59.9 dB day · 50.0–54.9 dB night | <1% (6) | <1% (8) |
| 60.0–64.9 dB day · 55.0–59.9 dB night | <1% (2) | <1% (3) |
| 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% | 99% |
Share of the 1,804 postcodes within ~5 km of the Harlow centre. Source: DEFRA Strategic Noise Mapping Round 4 (2022), Open Government Licence.
Noisiest postcodes in and around Harlow
Check a specific postcode
Example searches: CM20 1PP · CM20 2EG · CM18 6NG · CM20 1AR · CM17 9JD · CM20 2ET
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 Harlow?
- We analysed 1,804 postcodes in and around Harlow, Essex against DEFRA's Strategic Noise Mapping (Round 4, 2022). 16% of them (292) have mapped road noise of 55 dB or more by day, and <1% have mapped rail noise. 83% 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 CM20 2ET (road noise 65.0–69.9 dB by day).
- Where is the most road noise in Harlow?
- The postcodes with the highest modelled daytime levels in and around Harlow are CM20 2ET, CM20 1PP, CM20 2HU, based on DEFRA's 2022 model of major roads and railways.