How Noisy?

Road & rail noise map for Sawbridgeworth

Town in Hertfordshire, Eastern

We analysed 634 postcodes in and around Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire against DEFRA's Strategic Noise Mapping (Round 4, 2022). 23% of them (146) have mapped road noise of 55 dB or more by day, and 4% have mapped rail noise. 73% 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 CM21 9JJ (road noise 65.0–69.9 dB by day).

Noise map of Sawbridgeworth

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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 night16% (103)7% (42)
60.0–64.9 dB day · 55.0–59.9 dB night5% (33)4% (28)
65.0–69.9 dB day · 60.0–64.9 dB night2% (10)1% (8)
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 mapped77%88%

Rail noise

BandDay (LAeq,16h)Night (Lnight)
55.0–59.9 dB day · 50.0–54.9 dB night<1% (4)<1% (4)
60.0–64.9 dB day · 55.0–59.9 dB night3% (20)3% (18)
65.0–69.9 dB day · 60.0–64.9 dB night<1% (3)<1% (5)
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 mapped96%96%

Share of the 634 postcodes within ~5 km of the Sawbridgeworth centre. Source: DEFRA Strategic Noise Mapping Round 4 (2022), Open Government Licence.

Noisiest postcodes in and around Sawbridgeworth

  • CM21 9JJ road 65.0–69.9 dB by day
  • CM21 9EN road 65.0–69.9 dB by day
  • CM21 9EL road 65.0–69.9 dB by day
  • CM21 0AL road 65.0–69.9 dB by day
  • CM20 2EQ road 65.0–69.9 dB by day, rail 60.0–64.9 dB by day

Check a specific postcode

Example searches: CM21 9BU · CM21 9EJ · CM21 0DQ · CM20 2EQ · CM21 0AL · CM21 9EL

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 Sawbridgeworth?
We analysed 634 postcodes in and around Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire against DEFRA's Strategic Noise Mapping (Round 4, 2022). 23% of them (146) have mapped road noise of 55 dB or more by day, and 4% have mapped rail noise. 73% 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 CM21 9JJ (road noise 65.0–69.9 dB by day).
Where is the most road noise in Sawbridgeworth?
The postcodes with the highest modelled daytime levels in and around Sawbridgeworth are CM21 9JJ, CM21 9EN, CM21 9EL, based on DEFRA's 2022 model of major roads and railways.