It’s the city that never sleeps, so it’s no surprise NYC is noisy. But it’s not simply just noisy–it’s the noisiest! According to a recent study done by Steel Guard Safety, New York City is noisiest city in the country, and us New Yorkers can confirm.
The company came to their conclusion by analyzing key factors related to noise pollution in the most populated 100 cities in the country. They focused on three categories–population density, ground and air traffic, and environment–and gave each noisiest city a score based on impact of each factor on noise levels.
The weighted scores for each metric were then added to create the ranking.
And, according to the data, no city is as noisy is NYC, where a high population density, vibrant nightlife scene, and bustling public transit system combine to ensure the decibel levels stay pretty high.
Overall, New York City received a score of 95.
The study writes:
New York conjures images of a bustling, Wall Street-fueled metropolis where people are always shouting about where they’re walking, but that’s just in the daytime. The nightlife scene is the beating heart of New York’s noise problem; the city that never sleeps has more nightlife venues than any other city in the U.S. by almost a factor of 3, and with 27,543 residents per square mile, chances are someone’s ready to tear up some karaoke at a bar near you every night of the week.
Nearby, Jersey City also found itself in the ranking’s top three, with an overall noise score of 93. Right in between, with a score of 94, are our friends over in Chicago.
The study points out that, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, ambient noise can affect everything from mental health to cardiovascular function, so noise pollution is more than just a nuisance.
Our suggestion–be sure to prioritize treating yourself to some well-deserved R&R time at the spa. Or, with spring quickly approaching, you can also spend some time exploring one of NYC’s stunning secret gardens.
The full study can be found here.