Have you lived in a place that is noisy? When we moved from the apartment to a rented house, we did not expect to be bothered by the neighbor. A lot away was a truck depot. It's a small depot with about 4 or 5 trucks only. But it's also the dwelling of the drivers and workers of that hauling company. Aside from the noise of the truck's engine at midnight, the workers seemed to be deaf because they were yelling and shouting. We had to complain because they interrupt our sleep.
I lived in a very central area at street level and the noise coming from activity during the night was pretty annoying. Especially in the summer since I would have liked to keep the window a bit open to get some cool air but that of course just makes the noises that much louder. I can sleep anywhere so it wasn't a huge issue but I certainly would have preferred something more quiet.
Most of the places I have lived have not been that noisy. I think you can expect more noise when you live in a city. I live in a country setting and it is very quiet here. There is an occasional car that goes by but that is it. I heard a lot more cars and traffic noises when I lived in the city. I miss it though. I like the quiet, here but sometimes (actually often) it is just too dull.
I remember an incident when we were staying in the ancestral home of my husband. Nearby was a big bakery with more than 10 trucks for delivery. The habit of those truck drivers was to park their truck near the front of our house. Worse, one truck would leave the door open while the radio is blaring. The driver would be in the street corner chatting with other drivers. The time - 6 am. One time we got fed up, my husband came out of the house with a hammer and proceeded to the offending truck. The driver was fast to approach my husband and hastily turned off the radio with a matching apology. That racket never happened again.
All my life I've lived in the centre of a busy city and while noise can be a problem, I've always found that it something that you just get used to. In fact you get used to it that much that I was working away for a week once in the edge of a tiny village and were I stayed I found to quiet and unnerving, and at the end of the week I couldn't wait to get back to the city, back to what I was used to!
I am a little picky with noises that is true. Currently I am working in a room with a lot of people and the noise is terrible what really makes me nervous.
Noise can be a factor, but I think the kind of noise is a big part of that. Noise from people and noise from equipment or from transportation are all different.
I've always lived in the city too so am used to noises at all hours. It just depends on what you're used to really. I'm more bothered by residential noise such as arguing neighbors or screaming kids.
I've lived in some very noisy places. Lived just a short distance away from a busy highway for years and I got used to the noise but when I moved out of town and lived in a very quiet place I don't think I ever can live in a noisy place. I don't think however that tenants will factor in how noisy a place is when choosing an apartment to rent especially if convenience, living near their workplace, is what they are looking for.
I am city-bred, likewise my husband. We are used to urban noise but not during unholy hour. Here in our present home, we have a neighbor who drives a tricycle (that is a motorcycle with a sidecar for passengers). That is his lievelihood, plying the roads inside the village with his tricycle for passengers. Sometimes he would fix his tricycle in the early morning and would rev up the engine. Once is okay, twice maybe but for countless of times, I guess that is irritating already.