How Noisy?

Road & rail noise map for Hemel Hempstead

Town in Hertfordshire, Eastern

We analysed 2,470 postcodes in and around Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire against DEFRA's Strategic Noise Mapping (Round 4, 2022). 20% of them (504) have mapped road noise of 55 dB or more by day, and 2% have mapped rail noise. 78% 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 HP3 9SE (road noise 70.0–74.9 dB by day).

Noise map of Hemel Hempstead

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55-59 dB60-64 dB65-69 dB70-74 dB75 dB+Unshaded = below the mapping threshold or not modelled (not necessarily quiet).

How many postcodes are affected?

Road noise

BandDay (LAeq,16h)Night (Lnight)
55.0–59.9 dB day · 50.0–54.9 dB night13% (330)5% (117)
60.0–64.9 dB day · 55.0–59.9 dB night6% (136)5% (112)
65.0–69.9 dB day · 60.0–64.9 dB night1% (36)<1% (16)
70.0–74.9 dB day · 65.0–69.9 dB night<1% (2)<1% (1)
75.0 dB or more day · 70.0 dB or more night0% (0)0% (0)
Below mapped bands / not mapped80%90%

Rail noise

BandDay (LAeq,16h)Night (Lnight)
55.0–59.9 dB day · 50.0–54.9 dB night1% (28)1% (25)
60.0–64.9 dB day · 55.0–59.9 dB night<1% (15)<1% (6)
65.0–69.9 dB day · 60.0–64.9 dB night<1% (5)0% (0)
70.0–74.9 dB day · 65.0–69.9 dB night0% (0)0% (0)
75.0 dB or more day · 70.0 dB or more night0% (0)0% (0)
Below mapped bands / not mapped98%99%

Share of the 2,470 postcodes within ~5 km of the Hemel Hempstead centre. Source: DEFRA Strategic Noise Mapping Round 4 (2022), Open Government Licence.

Noisiest postcodes in and around Hemel Hempstead

  • HP3 9SE road 70.0–74.9 dB by day
  • HP2 4FL road 70.0–74.9 dB by day
  • HP3 9SB road 65.0–69.9 dB by day
  • HP1 2RA road 65.0–69.9 dB by day, rail 55.0–59.9 dB by day
  • HP3 9YP road 65.0–69.9 dB by day

Check a specific postcode

Example searches: HP3 9SE · HP2 4FL · HP1 1AX · HP1 1AJ · HP1 1AT · HP1 1AG

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 Hemel Hempstead?
We analysed 2,470 postcodes in and around Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire against DEFRA's Strategic Noise Mapping (Round 4, 2022). 20% of them (504) have mapped road noise of 55 dB or more by day, and 2% have mapped rail noise. 78% 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 HP3 9SE (road noise 70.0–74.9 dB by day).
Where is the most road noise in Hemel Hempstead?
The postcodes with the highest modelled daytime levels in and around Hemel Hempstead are HP3 9SE, HP2 4FL, HP3 9SB, based on DEFRA's 2022 model of major roads and railways.