How Noisy?

Road & rail noise map for Waltham Abbey

Town in Essex, Eastern

We analysed 556 postcodes in and around Waltham Abbey, Essex against DEFRA's Strategic Noise Mapping (Round 4, 2022). 25% of them (139) have mapped road noise of 55 dB or more by day, and 0% 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 EN9 3QT (road noise 65.0–69.9 dB by day).

Noise map of Waltham Abbey

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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 night21% (117)7% (39)
60.0–64.9 dB day · 55.0–59.9 dB night3% (18)3% (14)
65.0–69.9 dB day · 60.0–64.9 dB night<1% (4)<1% (2)
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 mapped75%90%

Rail noise

BandDay (LAeq,16h)Night (Lnight)
55.0–59.9 dB day · 50.0–54.9 dB night0% (0)0% (0)
60.0–64.9 dB day · 55.0–59.9 dB night0% (0)0% (0)
65.0–69.9 dB day · 60.0–64.9 dB night0% (0)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 mapped100%100%

Share of the 556 postcodes within ~5 km of the Waltham Abbey centre. Source: DEFRA Strategic Noise Mapping Round 4 (2022), Open Government Licence.

Noisiest postcodes in and around Waltham Abbey

Check a specific postcode

Example searches: EN9 3QX · EN9 3QY · EN9 3QT · EN9 3QU · EN9 1BD · EN9 1BQ

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 Waltham Abbey?
We analysed 556 postcodes in and around Waltham Abbey, Essex against DEFRA's Strategic Noise Mapping (Round 4, 2022). 25% of them (139) have mapped road noise of 55 dB or more by day, and 0% 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 EN9 3QT (road noise 65.0–69.9 dB by day).
Where is the most road noise in Waltham Abbey?
The postcodes with the highest modelled daytime levels in and around Waltham Abbey are EN9 3QT, EN9 3QY, EN9 3QU, based on DEFRA's 2022 model of major roads and railways.