How Noisy?

Road & rail noise map for York

City in York, Yorkshire and the Humber

We analysed 4,060 postcodes in and around York, York against DEFRA's Strategic Noise Mapping (Round 4, 2022). 24% of them (959) have mapped road noise of 55 dB or more by day, and 3% have mapped rail noise. 74% 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 YO1 6DA (road noise 75.0 dB or more by day).

Noise map of York

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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% (632)5% (187)
60.0–64.9 dB day · 55.0–59.9 dB night5% (206)4% (159)
65.0–69.9 dB day · 60.0–64.9 dB night2% (93)2% (64)
70.0–74.9 dB day · 65.0–69.9 dB night<1% (22)<1% (17)
75.0 dB or more day · 70.0 dB or more night<1% (6)<1% (6)
Below mapped bands / not mapped76%89%

Rail noise

BandDay (LAeq,16h)Night (Lnight)
55.0–59.9 dB day · 50.0–54.9 dB night<1% (24)2% (95)
60.0–64.9 dB day · 55.0–59.9 dB night2% (87)<1% (2)
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 mapped97%98%

Share of the 4,060 postcodes within ~5 km of the York centre. Source: DEFRA Strategic Noise Mapping Round 4 (2022), Open Government Licence.

Noisiest postcodes in and around York

  • YO1 6DA road 75.0 dB or more by day
  • YO1 6HZ road 75.0 dB or more by day
  • YO1 6JL road 75.0 dB or more by day
  • YO1 6DD road 75.0 dB or more by day
  • YO1 9QU road 75.0 dB or more by day

Check a specific postcode

Example searches: YO1 6JG · YO1 6JL · YO1 6DD · YO1 6HZ · YO1 6DA · YO1 9QU

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 York?
We analysed 4,060 postcodes in and around York, York against DEFRA's Strategic Noise Mapping (Round 4, 2022). 24% of them (959) have mapped road noise of 55 dB or more by day, and 3% have mapped rail noise. 74% 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 YO1 6DA (road noise 75.0 dB or more by day).
Where is the most road noise in York?
The postcodes with the highest modelled daytime levels in and around York are YO1 6DA, YO1 6HZ, YO1 6JL, based on DEFRA's 2022 model of major roads and railways.