This Southern state has claimed the title of loudest in all of America

Everything really is bigger in Texas. And according to a new report, that includes the noise.

The Lone Star State has been crowned the loudest in America, according to a new analysis from Alpine Hearing Protection. Texas topped the list with an average noise level of 80.65 decibels, beating out Nevada and California for the dubious honor. 

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Before Texans start taking this personally, the ranking isn't about the loudest voices. The study actually measures noise from roads, railways and aviation, using data from 2022 and 2023. 

So why is Texas making so much noise? For starters, it's just bigger, so it has more room for noise. Not to mention the state is heavily car-dependent and home to several major urban areas prone to continuous construction. So thank the sprawling freeways and need for new buildings in fast-growing cities like Houston and Dallas for their major contributions to the state's overall transportation noise. And don't forget about Austin, the “Live Music Capital of the World,” with more than 100 venues contributing. 

Nevada came in second, followed by California. Illinois and Florida rounded out the top five noisiest states, all of them potent combinations of big cities, bustling highways, busy airports and plenty of tourism. Interestingly, New York clocked in at No. 7, likely thanks to the huge swathe of quiet upstate compared to the urban noise pollution that has become the soundtrack to life in New York City.

At the other end of the spectrum, Connecticut was named the quietest state in America, with an average transportation noise level of 54.85 decibels. In fact, Connecticut and Vermont were the only states in the analysis to come in at or below the Environmental Protection Agency's 55-decibel outdoor benchmark.

The top 20 noisiest states in the contiguous U.S., according to the report:

1. Texas
2. Nevada
3. California
4. Illinois
5. Florida
6. Arizona
7. New York
8. North Dakota
9. North Carolina
10. Oregon
11. Washington
12. Georgia
13. New Jersey
14. Oklahoma
15. New Mexico
16. Colorado
17. Michigan
18. Kansas
19. Utah
20. Massachusetts