>* Wood frame construction instead of brick - more noise let in No. With proper insulation and good windows, wood-frame houses are extremely quiet inside. An

>* Wood frame construction instead of brick - more noise let in No. With proper insulation and good windows, wood-frame houses are extremely quiet inside. And they don't collapse in earthquakes. >* More cars on the road as public transport is less viable >* Larger, louder cars and trucks >* Grid layout means more cars on residential streets Ding! Ding! Ding! The cars are probably the biggest factor, plus the fact that "cars" here are frequently giant noisy pickup trucks and SUVs. Another factor is dogs. I've lived in several places where people have big noisy dogs they leave outside to bark for hours on end. I imagine that's not a big problem in Britain. Everyone in America just loves huge, smelly, noisy dogs that bark all the time.