How Noisy?

Road & rail noise map for Ware

Town in Hertfordshire, Eastern

We analysed 737 postcodes in and around Ware, Hertfordshire against DEFRA's Strategic Noise Mapping (Round 4, 2022). 21% of them (152) have mapped road noise of 55 dB or more by day, and <1% have mapped rail noise. 79% 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 SG12 9DW (road noise 70.0–74.9 dB by day).

Noise map of Ware

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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 night12% (85)7% (52)
60.0–64.9 dB day · 55.0–59.9 dB night7% (53)6% (41)
65.0–69.9 dB day · 60.0–64.9 dB night2% (13)1% (9)
70.0–74.9 dB day · 65.0–69.9 dB night<1% (1)0% (0)
75.0 dB or more day · 70.0 dB or more night0% (0)0% (0)
Below mapped bands / not mapped79%86%

Rail noise

BandDay (LAeq,16h)Night (Lnight)
55.0–59.9 dB day · 50.0–54.9 dB night<1% (6)<1% (6)
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 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 mapped99%99%

Share of the 737 postcodes within ~5 km of the Ware centre. Source: DEFRA Strategic Noise Mapping Round 4 (2022), Open Government Licence.

Noisiest postcodes in and around Ware

Check a specific postcode

Example searches: SG12 9DW · SG12 9BS · SG12 0FQ · SG12 9AT · SG12 9BA · SG12 9DZ

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 Ware?
We analysed 737 postcodes in and around Ware, Hertfordshire against DEFRA's Strategic Noise Mapping (Round 4, 2022). 21% of them (152) have mapped road noise of 55 dB or more by day, and <1% have mapped rail noise. 79% 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 SG12 9DW (road noise 70.0–74.9 dB by day).
Where is the most road noise in Ware?
The postcodes with the highest modelled daytime levels in and around Ware are SG12 9DW, SG12 9BS, SG13 7FJ, based on DEFRA's 2022 model of major roads and railways.