Road & rail noise map for Hereford
City in County of Herefordshire, West Midlands
We analysed 1,746 postcodes in and around Hereford, County of Herefordshire against DEFRA's Strategic Noise Mapping (Round 4, 2022). 25% of them (437) have mapped road noise of 55 dB or more by day, and <1% have mapped rail noise. 75% 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 HR4 0AJ (road noise 70.0–74.9 dB by day).
Noise map of Hereford
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 | 14% (253) | 8% (142) |
| 60.0–64.9 dB day · 55.0–59.9 dB night | 8% (140) | 5% (91) |
| 65.0–69.9 dB day · 60.0–64.9 dB night | 2% (36) | 1% (22) |
| 70.0–74.9 dB day · 65.0–69.9 dB night | <1% (8) | <1% (2) |
| 75.0 dB or more day · 70.0 dB or more night | 0% (0) | 0% (0) |
| Below mapped bands / not mapped | 75% | 85% |
Rail noise
| Band | Day (LAeq,16h) | Night (Lnight) |
|---|---|---|
| 55.0–59.9 dB day · 50.0–54.9 dB night | <1% (9) | <1% (5) |
| 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 | 99% | 100% |
Share of the 1,746 postcodes within ~5 km of the Hereford centre. Source: DEFRA Strategic Noise Mapping Round 4 (2022), Open Government Licence.
Noisiest postcodes in and around Hereford
Check a specific postcode
Example searches: HR4 0AJ · HR4 0AP · HR1 2BS · HR2 7JL · HR1 2AZ · HR4 9HQ
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 Hereford?
- We analysed 1,746 postcodes in and around Hereford, County of Herefordshire against DEFRA's Strategic Noise Mapping (Round 4, 2022). 25% of them (437) have mapped road noise of 55 dB or more by day, and <1% have mapped rail noise. 75% 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 HR4 0AJ (road noise 70.0–74.9 dB by day).
- Where is the most road noise in Hereford?
- The postcodes with the highest modelled daytime levels in and around Hereford are HR4 0AJ, HR4 0AP, HR4 9JR, based on DEFRA's 2022 model of major roads and railways.