Road & rail noise map for Rayleigh
Town in Essex, Eastern
We analysed 2,040 postcodes in and around Rayleigh, Essex against DEFRA's Strategic Noise Mapping (Round 4, 2022). 18% of them (366) have mapped road noise of 55 dB or more by day, and <1% have mapped rail noise. 82% 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 SS6 8EH (road noise 70.0–74.9 dB by day).
Noise map of Rayleigh
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 | 9% (182) | 6% (117) |
| 60.0–64.9 dB day · 55.0–59.9 dB night | 7% (145) | 5% (111) |
| 65.0–69.9 dB day · 60.0–64.9 dB night | 2% (36) | 1% (26) |
| 70.0–74.9 dB day · 65.0–69.9 dB night | <1% (3) | <1% (1) |
| 75.0 dB or more day · 70.0 dB or more night | 0% (0) | 0% (0) |
| Below mapped bands / not mapped | 82% | 88% |
Rail noise
| Band | Day (LAeq,16h) | Night (Lnight) |
|---|---|---|
| 55.0–59.9 dB day · 50.0–54.9 dB night | <1% (4) | <1% (8) |
| 60.0–64.9 dB day · 55.0–59.9 dB night | <1% (1) | <1% (1) |
| 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 2,040 postcodes within ~5 km of the Rayleigh centre. Source: DEFRA Strategic Noise Mapping Round 4 (2022), Open Government Licence.
Noisiest postcodes in and around Rayleigh
Check a specific postcode
Example searches: SS7 2PG · SS6 8EH · SS6 7BY · SS6 7EE · SS6 7DY · SS6 7BS
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 Rayleigh?
- We analysed 2,040 postcodes in and around Rayleigh, Essex against DEFRA's Strategic Noise Mapping (Round 4, 2022). 18% of them (366) have mapped road noise of 55 dB or more by day, and <1% have mapped rail noise. 82% 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 SS6 8EH (road noise 70.0–74.9 dB by day).
- Where is the most road noise in Rayleigh?
- The postcodes with the highest modelled daytime levels in and around Rayleigh are SS6 8EH, SS6 7BY, SS7 2PG, based on DEFRA's 2022 model of major roads and railways.