A recent study ranks the noisiest cities across North America, drawing from factors like population density, traffic congestion, visitor return rates, and levels of noise and light pollution. San Jose landed at 14th place among U.S. cities with an overall score of 40.03 out of 100. The city's population density sits at 2,104 people per square kilometer, ranking 19th, while average monthly Google searches related to noise complaints come in at 8.490, placing 18th. Congestion levels hover at 29 percent, which is 14th overall.
Traffic congestion isn't equal in every state. But knowing where traffic can be the worst is important, as sitting in long lines of cars can slowly damage your vehicle over time. Traffic also contributes to worsening pollution and reduces an area's economic health, as it can make people late for work or school, and lead to other issues down the line. In some areas, though, congestion is hard to avoid because of smaller roadways or population growth without infrastructure improvement.