15 Loudest States That Drive Their Residents Crazy
Most of us have dealt with a noisy neighbor or two, but it seems some states take the prize for being louder than others. From bustling city apartments to suburban tranquility, a Zippia study ranked which American states are the noisiest.
Here Comes the Boom
A study by Zippia determined the loudest states in the US by analyzing population data, home metrics, and car ownership by state. Each state was ranked on a scale of 1 to 50 for home size, household size (or number of people living in a single home), people per square mile, and registered cars per square mile, with the average score resulting in the state’s final loudness ranking.
1: New Jersey
Densely populated New Jersey takes the top spot on the list of loudest states purely based on traffic. In one square mile, you’re likely to run into 1,207 people and 371 cars.
2: California
Those looking for peace and quiet with a side of sunshine might want to move outside of California. The Golden State has one of the highest average household sizes in the nation, with 2.67 people packed into homes that run small: 1,625 square feet on average.
3: Hawaii
Beachside luxury isn’t all it’s cracked up to be in Hawaii. With an average home size of 1,308 square feet holding around 3.02 people per household, there are bound to be a few loud late-night arguments that nearby neighbors can’t escape.
4: Florida
It may not be a surprise to see Florida on a list of America’s loudest states. With 375.9 people and 148 cars per square mile, the Sunshine State’s year-round residents can easily drown out the soothing sounds of the ocean, and that’s not even counting the millions of tourists that visit each year.
5: Rhode Island
Tiny Rhode Island boasts the largest number of cars registered per square mile (395) in the entire country. Paired with roughly 1,010 residents per square mile, that’s a recipe for a noisy state.
6: Illinois
An average home size of 1,632 square feet means that there are a lot of people sharing cramped quarters in Illinois, especially in Chicago, where the average apartment size is 10.1% smaller than the national average.
7: Massachusetts
Whether commuting by train, bus, or car, Massachusetts streets are bound to be loud, with roughly 866 people and 278 cars passing by every square mile.
8: New York
Upstate New York’s more rural surroundings help balance out Manhattan’s staggering stats. The Empire State as a whole still has around 100 cars registered per square mile, even though many city-dwellers don’t bother driving.
9: Delaware
Delaware benefits from a large average house size of 1,800 square feet. Outside the confines of home, the streets can be pretty loud, with 484 people and 222 registered cars every square mile.
10: Maryland
Passing roughly 615 people every square mile can be deafening, especially when paired with the roar of 197 car engines in Maryland. A large average house size of 1,920 does help to disperse some of that extra noise, especially at night.
11: Ohio
Ohio sees fewer people per square mile at just 283, but all those folks are packed into homes averaging just 1,620 square feet. That’s a lot of foot traffic when neighbors are trying to get some shut-eye.
12: Connecticut
Connecticut is desirable for its sublime schools, which might account for the 741 people and 269 registered cars per square mile. All that traffic contributes to a noisy morning commute, made even louder by reluctant kids at private school drop-off.
13: Pennsylvania
Things are a little more serene in Pennsylvania, where there are just 98 cars registered per square mile across the state. More than 280 people per square mile keep things a little noisy, though, especially in larger cities like Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.
14: Michigan
Cold winters and a smaller average house size of 1,530 square feet mean things can get rowdy in Michigan. That said, the loud lakeside state benefits from less traffic; there are just 53 cars registered per square mile.
15: Indiana
Indiana keeps things a little more tranquil, with just 62 cars registered per square mile. However, 184 people in the same radius might be a bit much for those looking to relax in a more rural setting.
More People, More Sound
Based on Zippia’s findings, more densely populated states like New Jersey, California, and Massachusetts are louder because of the sheer number of people and cars packed into smaller areas.
Where the People Aren’t
The quietest states in the US tend to fall in on the Western side of the country, where people are more spread out. North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming all rank among the quietest states in the US.
The Quietest State
With an astonishing seven people and three cars registered per square mile, Montana is the quietest state in the US, at least according to Zippia. The Treasure State is a great spot for those looking to retire somewhere tranquil, especially with a palatial average home size of 2,040 square feet.
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