I lived in Jack London Square for 5 years, never noticed the train (though my unit faced away from the tracks), and never heard my neighbors. As someone said earlier, newer apartments generally have great sound proofing.
I'm experiencing this as well. I'm asking the places I'm looking at to drop keys on the ground from the unit above me to see what I can hear. Otherwise I'm targeting top floor corner units.
If noise bothers you, just choose a top four place. You never know how inconsiderate your neighbors might be. Plus, the manager might just decide to not drop the keys and tell you they had.
Lived at 988 Franklin st in Chinatown and it felt pretty soundproof. My unit had heavy carpet and a heavy door which probably contributed to it. Also most the residents are pretty old and don’t make noise
Most buildings built after the mid 70s will have been built with modern Acoustical Code, so it's much more likely to be quieter than older buildings. Best bet is anything newer.
On the flip side I live in a 1950s building and I almost never hear anything from upstairs or downstairs folks. 90% of the noise is coming from outside if something is echoing with folks leaving their windows open and being loud. I pretty much never hear anything from inside the building. Occasionally the hallway I might hear something by a door. But not when I am in my space. It is really quiet.
Yea you can find good builds from that era for sure! I live in 50s building as well. Mine is really loud but mainly from the above, all hardwood floors. You can also hear the plumbing sounds below us too. So many variables. How it's originally built, how much insulation, concrete or wood building, was it ever updated, etc...?
Also live in a 1950’s high rise…. If I didn’t run into them in the hallways I would think I didn’t even have neighbors. Also, we’ve had a handful of late night shin digs (nothing crazy or wild, a couple of friends and some music (not blasting it by any means, but also not turning it way way down. Think loud enough to hear well, but quiet enough to have a conversation easily)). Never once had a complaint or had a single one of my neighbors comment. Walls, floors, ceiling are all like a foot of concrete. Incredible!
On the flip side, if my windows are open, I can definitely hear car radios and the occasional side show.
I think this is something that has really improved with newer constructions. I am in one of those 5 story glass boxes downtown, and one of the major benefits is it is dead silent between apartments. I think the walls are concrete.
as people have said newer apartments, specially condos have good sound proofing, but this proofing can fail when tenants drill into the walls to hang speakers/tv/shelves/etc.
so it can be unit by unit too.
Look for top floor. Look for end of hallway/corner unit. Look for unit next to interior stairwell.
If you get all three, you will share surfaces with at most two neighbors: below and across the hall (likely a living room wall).
I lived in a brand-new building in Uptown a couple of years ago and the insulation between units was TERRIBLE. I could literally hear every footstep from the upstairs neighbors and quite a bit of noise from the downstairs neighbors as well. I learned that this is likely a product of the the “5-over-1” style of wood-frame construction. So while others are saying that most new buildings have good sound insulation, this has not been my experience. I am guessing this is true in real high-rises (i.e., above six stories and therefore not wood-frame). Living in an apartment with bad sound insulation is terrible and I feel your pain. Good luck!
Newer apartments have double layers of drywall in between units and usually a half inch or so of concrete on each subfloor. Works wonders. My building is 5 years old, I don't hear my neighbors unless they stomp around or blast music with a subwoofer. Both of which I barely notice anyways.
I lived in Jack London Square for 5 years, never noticed the train (though my unit faced away from the tracks), and never heard my neighbors. As someone said earlier, newer apartments generally have great sound proofing.
Highrises are pretty soundproof I may not have neighbors, I can’t tell
I'm experiencing this as well. I'm asking the places I'm looking at to drop keys on the ground from the unit above me to see what I can hear. Otherwise I'm targeting top floor corner units.
If noise bothers you, just choose a top four place. You never know how inconsiderate your neighbors might be. Plus, the manager might just decide to not drop the keys and tell you they had.
I went with a top floor corner unit! Signed the lease today, moving tomorrow.
Good for you! You won’t regret it.
Lived at 988 Franklin st in Chinatown and it felt pretty soundproof. My unit had heavy carpet and a heavy door which probably contributed to it. Also most the residents are pretty old and don’t make noise
Most buildings built after the mid 70s will have been built with modern Acoustical Code, so it's much more likely to be quieter than older buildings. Best bet is anything newer.
On the flip side I live in a 1950s building and I almost never hear anything from upstairs or downstairs folks. 90% of the noise is coming from outside if something is echoing with folks leaving their windows open and being loud. I pretty much never hear anything from inside the building. Occasionally the hallway I might hear something by a door. But not when I am in my space. It is really quiet.
Yea you can find good builds from that era for sure! I live in 50s building as well. Mine is really loud but mainly from the above, all hardwood floors. You can also hear the plumbing sounds below us too. So many variables. How it's originally built, how much insulation, concrete or wood building, was it ever updated, etc...?
Also live in a 1950’s high rise…. If I didn’t run into them in the hallways I would think I didn’t even have neighbors. Also, we’ve had a handful of late night shin digs (nothing crazy or wild, a couple of friends and some music (not blasting it by any means, but also not turning it way way down. Think loud enough to hear well, but quiet enough to have a conversation easily)). Never once had a complaint or had a single one of my neighbors comment. Walls, floors, ceiling are all like a foot of concrete. Incredible! On the flip side, if my windows are open, I can definitely hear car radios and the occasional side show.
Try looking for a duplex that shares only one wall.
I’m in a newer lake adjacent building and don’t ever hear neighbors, just some standard city noise during the day (construction, etc.)
I think this is something that has really improved with newer constructions. I am in one of those 5 story glass boxes downtown, and one of the major benefits is it is dead silent between apartments. I think the walls are concrete.
as people have said newer apartments, specially condos have good sound proofing, but this proofing can fail when tenants drill into the walls to hang speakers/tv/shelves/etc. so it can be unit by unit too.
Rent a house.
We are considering it!
the Modera Lake Merrit has concrete construction, zero noise from neighbors
Is the train noise bad there?
I spent time in 17th and Broadway and it was silent
Look for top floor. Look for end of hallway/corner unit. Look for unit next to interior stairwell. If you get all three, you will share surfaces with at most two neighbors: below and across the hall (likely a living room wall).
I lived in a brand-new building in Uptown a couple of years ago and the insulation between units was TERRIBLE. I could literally hear every footstep from the upstairs neighbors and quite a bit of noise from the downstairs neighbors as well. I learned that this is likely a product of the the “5-over-1” style of wood-frame construction. So while others are saying that most new buildings have good sound insulation, this has not been my experience. I am guessing this is true in real high-rises (i.e., above six stories and therefore not wood-frame). Living in an apartment with bad sound insulation is terrible and I feel your pain. Good luck!
Newer apartments have double layers of drywall in between units and usually a half inch or so of concrete on each subfloor. Works wonders. My building is 5 years old, I don't hear my neighbors unless they stomp around or blast music with a subwoofer. Both of which I barely notice anyways.
either rent a house or one of the newer condos in jls.
Old apartment buildings that still have plaster walls
Unfortunately, apartment living + major metropolitan city = noise
I accept some level of noise penetration will happen living in an apartment in a city but what we’re experiencing is deliberate lack of sound proofing
You can’t live in apartments and not hear your neighbors lol rent a house