U.S. States With the Noisiest Neighbors

Whether you’re sharing a fence or a wall, we all know that living in close proximity to neighbors can get pretty personal. And by personal, we mean loud.

From late-night, unnecessarily heavy footsteps to constantly barking dogs or even just casual chatter that carries farther than intended, noise is one of the fastest ways households collide. While a little sound is part of everyday living, some places seem to deal with it far more often than others.

To understand where neighbor noise shows up the most, and what people really think about the folks next door, we surveyed residents across the country. Their responses offered a clear look at how often they hear each other, how they feel about it, and how those experiences shift between single-family homes and apartment or condo living. The results outline the noisiest and quietest states, the places where frustrations run highest, and the moments when sound becomes a bigger part of daily life.

Which U.S. States Have the Noisiest Neighbors?

Noise is an inescapable part of sharing a wall, a hallway, or a property line, but some places deal with more of it than others. Our survey set out to understand where neighbor noise is most common and how those patterns shift across the country. The rankings below reflect the share of respondents in each state who said their neighbors are “somewhat” or “very” noisy. For context, the national average was 26.3%.

States With the Noisiest and Quietest Neighbors

These states ranked highest for everyday noise coming from next door, across both single-family homes and apartments or condos.

1. New York — 40.8%
2. Hawaii — 38.3%
3. Nevada — 38%
4. Maine — 37%
5. Ohio — 36.5%

Though these states vary widely in geography and lifestyle, they have one thing in common: many residents live close enough to hear daily activity on the other side of a wall or window. Some have large shares of apartments or older homes with thinner construction, while others simply reflect neighborhoods where people live in tighter clusters. The mix shows that noisy neighbors aren’t just an urban issue. Sound carries in plenty of places where homes sit farther than people think.

Other parts of the country stay well below the national average, often in areas with more space between homes or slower-paced communities.

1. Montana — 11.4%
2. Indiana — 12.2%
3. Iowa — 12.5%
4. Mississippi — 14.3%
5. Idaho — 14.6%

These states tend to offer more breathing room between households, whether through larger lots, fewer shared walls, or layouts that naturally limit everyday noise. Even in growing areas, many residents still enjoy homes that provide enough distance to muffle the typical sounds of life, whether that’s barking dogs, early alarms, or the occasional backyard gathering.

Where Residents Are Most Likely To File Noise Complaints

We found that 18% of Americans have formally complained about their noisy neighbors before, whether to them directly or a governing entity (HOA, management team, etc). 

Some of these states may not necessarily be the loudest, but their residents speak up when noise crosses the line. If you’re the neighbor who turns up the volume, these states are the most likely to call it out:

1. Maine — 30.4%
2. Nevada — 30%
3. Oregon — 29.8%
4. Oklahoma — 28.6%
5. South Carolina — 28%

A high complaint rate doesn’t mean a state is loud; it can also signal lower tolerance for disruptions or communities where people take action when noise becomes a nuisance.  But noise is only part of the story.

States With the Most Annoying Neighbors

We also asked how annoying neighbors are overall. These numbers reflect respondents who rated their neighbors as at least “moderately” annoying. The national average was 25.5%.

1. Arizona — 35.8%
2. Oregon — 34.1%
3. Hawaii — 34%
4. Nevada — 34%
5. Illinois — 34%

Noise is one of the fastest ways to be demoted from “neighbor” to “annoying neighbor,” so it’s no surprise that several states appear again here. When sounds carry, or living spaces are tight, even minor habits can become repeated irritations, shaping how people perceive the folks next door.

Luckily, having neighbors isn’t all formal noise complaints and heavy footsteps.

States With the Friendliest Neighbors

Plenty of states stand out for their friendly, welcoming communities. These results reflect the share of respondents who described their neighbors as “somewhat” or “very” friendly. The national average was 67.8%.

1. Missouri — 87.5%
2. Vermont — 81.3%
3. Delaware — 80.8%
4. South Dakota — 77.3%
5. Utah — 75.5%

On the brighter side, many communities report overwhelmingly positive interactions. These states stand out for neighborly goodwill, where people view those around them as approachable, polite, and easy to live near. Even when the occasional noise happens.

Overall, the results show that Americans experience neighbor noise in very different ways, shaped by how close they live to one another and how they respond when sounds spill over. With the big picture in place, next we’ll explore the survey findings behind these patterns and what people say contributes most to noisy living.

What Americans Say About Living Next to Noisy Neighbors

Noise carries differently from one home to the next, but the way people feel about it tells an even bigger story. Our survey dug into how Americans perceive their neighbors, how often frustrations bubble up, and what people admit about their own habits. The findings offer a clear picture of what everyday neighbor dynamics look like nationwide.

Even though there are pockets of excessive noise, the national view shows that most people still experience relatively peaceful surroundings. In fact, most Americans say things are pretty quiet where they live.

• 52% describe their neighbors as “very” or “somewhat” quiet.
• Only 26% say their neighborhood is “somewhat” or “very” noisy.

So, while noise can be a major disruptor, it isn’t the norm for most households. Still, when noise does happen, people don’t always let it slide.

How Americans Handle Noise

Some residents address noise head-on, while others hold back but clearly feel tempted.

• As we know, 18% have formally complained about noisy neighbors before.
• 21% have not complained but have wanted to.
• 23% admit they might be the noisy neighbor themselves.

These responses show how complicated neighbor dynamics can be. People may hear more than they’d like, hesitate to complain, or even recognize their own volume levels might be part of the problem.

How Neighbors Interact Beyond Noise

Noise isn’t the only source of tension. Sometimes conflict arises even when sound isn’t involved.

• 4 in 10 Americans have had a negative experience or conflict with a neighbor.

Despite that, many communities remain connected in small but meaningful ways.

• 4 in 5 know at least a few of their neighbors’ names, and 28% know most of them.
  • People in single-family homes are more likely to know their neighbors by name than those in apartments or condos (86% vs. 69%).

These differences make sense: detached homes often give people more chances to interact casually—waving from the driveway or chatting while taking out the trash—while apartment living can feel more transient or private.

Preference, Personality, and What People Put Up With

Even with the chance to interact, not everyone wants to chat.

• 52% would rather their neighbor always ignore them entirely than stop for a daily conversation.
• 67% would rather put up with a noisy neighbor than a nosy one.

That last finding says a lot about modern neighbor relationships: noise is frustrating, but prying eyes are even worse.

Americans balance noise, conflict, familiarity, and boundaries every day. Some welcome a quick hello, some keep to themselves, and many simply hope their neighbors are quiet enough to live near comfortably. 

Next, we’ll explore how these experiences shift depending on where people live. Specifically, the difference between noisy neighbors in single-family homes and those in apartments or condos.

How Noise Differs in Apartments vs. Single-Family Homes

Noise doesn’t travel the same way in every home. The experience of hearing a neighbor through a shared wall can feel completely different from hearing one across a yard. We observed clear differences between how apartment and condo residents experience noise compared to those in single-family homes, and the gap is, perhaps unsurprisingly, wide.

Who Hears Their Neighbors the Most

Living in close quarters naturally raises the odds of overhearing daily life.

• 42% of apartment dwellers describe their neighbors as “somewhat” or “very” noisy, more than twice the rate of people in single-family homes (21%).
• Nearly 1 in 4 Americans (23%) hear their neighbors multiple times a day, but this varies sharply by housing type.
  • 39% of apartment residents hear neighbors multiple times a day, compared to 18% of those in single-family homes.

Hearing noise through shared walls or ceilings becomes a regular part of apartment living, while detached homes provide a natural buffer, even in active neighborhoods.

What Noises Bother People Most

Not all noise is created equal. We asked respondents to select which types of noises they find most irritating. Some sounds spark frustration quickly.

Top complaints overall:

1. Pets — 50% 
2. Arguments or shouting — 45%
3. Loud music — 37%
4. Parties — 33%

For those in apartments, movement alone becomes a standout issue.

• 41.5% say footsteps and everyday activity are the worst noises they hear, highlighting how thin ceilings or shared floors shape daily irritation.

When Noise Happens

Timing plays a big role in how disruptive noise feels.

• 42% of Americans say their neighbors are loudest between 5 and 8 p.m., the hours when many people unwind after work.
• Apartment residents are far more likely to deal with late-night noise, with 21.5% saying things get loud after 9 p.m., compared to 12.1% of those in single-family homes.

Lower nighttime rates among detached homes suggest that physical distance helps dampen sound when people are trying to sleep.

Annoying vs. Friendly: How Housing Shapes Perception

Noise often shapes how people view their neighbors overall.

• 1 in 4 Americans (25%) say their neighbors are at least “moderately” annoying, and 42% don’t find them annoying at all.
• But annoyance is much more common in apartments (36%) than in single-family homes (22%).

Friendliness shows a similar divide.

• Nearly 7 in 10 Americans (68%) describe their neighbors as “somewhat” or “very” friendly, with only about 10% calling them unfriendly.
• Single-family home residents are much more likely to agree with this than apartment dwellers (71% vs. 58%).

Closer proximity can make it easier to get irritated, and maybe a bit harder to form warm connections.

Shared walls bring more noise and more chances for friction, while detached homes offer distance that quiets both sound and tension.

Closing Thoughts

Noise is part of living in a community, but our survey shows how different the experience can be depending on where you live. Some situations have us dealing with loud neighbors daily, while others enjoy near silence. Apartment residents, especially, navigate a soundscape shaped by shared walls, tight layouts, and all the everyday activity that comes with close-quarters living.

For anyone feeling a little too familiar with their neighbors’ footsteps or playlists, the home itself can make a difference. Thoughtful layouts, smart storage, and furniture scaled for small spaces help create a calmer, more comfortable environment—even when the noise outside your door isn’t going anywhere.

Apt2B Modern Furniture designs pieces that work well in tighter spaces, helping renters and homeowners build spaces that feel peaceful, functional, and personal. If noisy neighbors are part of your daily soundtrack, a well-designed space can make your home feel calmer, even when the world around you isn’t.

Methodology

To determine the states with the noisiest neighbors, we asked people from every state how loud their neighbors typically are, what noises bother them the most, and if it’s ever gotten bad enough that they’ve complained about it. We also got insight into how people feel about their neighbors, more generally.

The survey ran over a 2-week period in November 2025 and consisted of over 2,300 respondents from 47 states.

States not included due to insufficient survey respondents: Alaska, North Dakota, and Wyoming.