In this article, we will reveal the quietest big city to live in the US. If you wish to look at our detailed rankings, you can go to the 20 Quietest Big Cities to Live in the US.
Long-term exposure to noise pollution poses serious health risks for millions of individuals. According to the European Environmental Agency, 20% of Europe’s population experiences noise pollution with severe health consequences. Data indicates that environmental noise contributes to 48,000 cases of ischemic heart disease annually and is responsible for approximately 12,000 premature deaths. Furthermore, an estimated 6.5 million people suffer from chronic sleep disturbances due to noise. It is also estimated that aircraft noise has negatively impacted the reading abilities of over 12,000 children.
Globally, noise-induced hearing loss affects about 5% of the population. A study conducted among traffic police in Hyderabad, India, revealed that around 76% of them suffer from noise-induced hearing loss. Meanwhile, in developed countries like the US, surveys show that about 6% of the population, particularly males, experience noise-induced hearing loss. These findings highlight the severe impact of noise pollution on public health worldwide.
Overview: Noise Mitigation Market
The adverse effects of noise pollution have increased the demand for noise mitigation solutions to reduce its impact both outdoors and indoors. According to Global Market Insights, the Noise Mitigation Market reached a value of around $1.2 billion in 2022. The market is projected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5% from 2023 to 2032. In terms of regions, North America held the largest market share in 2022 at 36%.
The industry growth is being largely driven by government initiatives aimed at protecting public health from the negative effects of noise pollution, as well as increased production of sound mitigation products by companies such as Noise Barriers and Acoustiblok, Inc.
Furthermore, online marketplaces like Alibaba Group Holding Limited (NYSE:BABA) also play an important role in increasing consumer access to soundproofing products like acoustic panel walls. Alibaba Group Holding Limited (NYSE:BABA) has been working on expanding its operations and achieving synergies across different divisions. The company recently hosted its 2024 results conference call.
In fiscal year 2024, Alibaba Group Holding Limited (NYSE:BABA) reported a total consolidated revenue of RMB 941 billion, reflecting an 8% growth. The consolidated adjusted EBITDA saw a 12% rise, reaching RMB 165 billion. Non-GAAP net income rose by 11%, amounting to RMB 157.5 billion. Furthermore, non-GAAP diluted earnings per ADS experienced a 14% rise, supported by the company’s ongoing share repurchase program.
Alibaba Group Holding Limited (NYSE:BABA) is the top stock recommended by billionaire David Tepper as of Q1 2024. For more of his stock picks, check out Top 10 AI Stocks for 2024 According to Billionaire David Tepper.
Here’s what Artisan Partners said about Alibaba Group Holding Limited (NYSE:BABA) in its Q1 2024 investor letter:
“Alibaba Group Holding Limited (NYSE:BABA) shares declined 7% during the quarter. There isn’t much new to say about Alibaba. There was no meaningful news that drove the share price decline. The earnings for the December quarter were fine, with revenues and profits both increasing 5%—not typically an exciting level of growth, but certainly enough to justify the company’s paltry valuation of 4X–5X EBIT. As we have written in recent letters, this is a valuation level that is normally reserved for a dying business, and Alibaba is not a dying business. Management continues to implement changes that are intended to increase shareholder value. Over the past year, they have changed management, adjusted the company structure, contemplated spinning off assets, made progress monetizing the balance sheet and have improved the capital allocation. All of these actions have yet to be reflected at all in the share price. This is a stock that could double and would still be cheap.”
Tyler Olson/Shutterstock.com
Our Methodology
To shortlist the 20 quietest big cities to live in the US, we referred to the ArcGIS noise map viewer to collect information regarding the mean noise levels across cities. The mean noise levels have been expressed in A-weighted decibels (dBA), which measure the relative loudness of sounds as perceived by the human ear. We filtered our results to include only those cities with a population greater than 500K. The quietest big cities have been ranked in descending order of their mean noise levels.
At Insider Monkey, we are obsessed with the stocks that hedge funds pile into. The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 275% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 150 percentage points. (see more details here).
The Quietest Big City to Live in the US
Oklahoma, OK
Mean Noise Level: 38.69 dBA
Oklahoma, with a population of over 690,000, holds the top spot as the quietest big city in the US. The city has minimal noise pollution, with a mean noise level of 38.69 dBA.
The majority of residents in Oklahoma commute to work alone, with an average travel time of 22 minutes. Furthermore, the average household in Oklahoma owns two cars.
The three most populous ethnic groups in Oklahoma consist of White individuals (non-Hispanic) comprising 52.5%, followed by Black or African American individuals (non-Hispanic) at 13.4%, and Hispanic White individuals at 8.91%.
The city’s peaceful living conditions make it an ideal choice for individuals seeking the amenities of a larger city without the typical noise or commotion associated with urban living.
Discover which city secured the second spot. You can visit the 20 Quietest Big Cities to Live in the US here.
At Insider Monkey, we delve into a variety of topics, ranging from the quietest big cities to live in the US to business aspects; however, our expertise lies in identifying the top-performing stocks. Currently, Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology stands out as one of the most promising fields. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than NVDA but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.
READ NEXT: Michael Burry Is Selling These Stocks and Jim Cramer is Recommending These Stocks.
Disclosure: None. This article is originally published on Insider Monkey.