How Noisy?

Road & rail noise map for Rochester

Town in Medway, South East

We analysed 1,632 postcodes in and around Rochester, Medway against DEFRA's Strategic Noise Mapping (Round 4, 2022). 34% of them (557) have mapped road noise of 55 dB or more by day, and 5% have mapped rail noise. 64% 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 ME2 4DT (road noise 60.0–64.9 dB by day).

Noise map of Rochester

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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 night20% (331)8% (129)
60.0–64.9 dB day · 55.0–59.9 dB night8% (126)8% (135)
65.0–69.9 dB day · 60.0–64.9 dB night6% (92)2% (39)
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 night0% (0)0% (0)
Below mapped bands / not mapped66%81%

Rail noise

BandDay (LAeq,16h)Night (Lnight)
55.0–59.9 dB day · 50.0–54.9 dB night2% (34)2% (33)
60.0–64.9 dB day · 55.0–59.9 dB night2% (37)2% (35)
65.0–69.9 dB day · 60.0–64.9 dB night<1% (12)<1% (11)
70.0–74.9 dB day · 65.0–69.9 dB night<1% (1)<1% (1)
75.0 dB or more day · 70.0 dB or more night<1% (1)<1% (1)
Below mapped bands / not mapped95%95%

Share of the 1,632 postcodes within ~5 km of the Rochester centre. Source: DEFRA Strategic Noise Mapping Round 4 (2022), Open Government Licence.

Noisiest postcodes in and around Rochester

  • ME2 4DT road 60.0–64.9 dB by day, rail 75.0 dB or more by day
  • ME1 1NJ road 65.0–69.9 dB by day, rail 70.0–74.9 dB by day
  • ME1 1UX road 70.0–74.9 dB by day
  • ME2 4TH road 70.0–74.9 dB by day
  • ME1 1JA road 70.0–74.9 dB by day

Check a specific postcode

Example searches: ME1 1UX · ME2 2JB · ME1 1BD · ME1 1JA · ME1 1XQ · ME2 4TH

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 Rochester?
We analysed 1,632 postcodes in and around Rochester, Medway against DEFRA's Strategic Noise Mapping (Round 4, 2022). 34% of them (557) have mapped road noise of 55 dB or more by day, and 5% have mapped rail noise. 64% 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 ME2 4DT (road noise 60.0–64.9 dB by day).
Where is the most road noise in Rochester?
The postcodes with the highest modelled daytime levels in and around Rochester are ME2 4DT, ME1 1NJ, ME1 1UX, based on DEFRA's 2022 model of major roads and railways.