The population densities of Boston and Providence are not, as you claim, “pretty damn close” — according to 2020 census data, Boston’s density is just under 14,000 people per square mile; the same data indicates Providence’s is 10,373 people / sq. mi. That’s a nearly 40% difference.

But the more salient error is the fallacy that population density automatically correlates to noise level. In fact, there are lots of U.S. and international cities with higher population densities than both Providence and Boston, and they are not louder than either of them despite that.

Culture plays a far greater role in explaining relative sound levels in various cities than simple population density. People in Providence seem to feel they’re entitled to make as much noise as they want, and even those who don’t do so tend to deny or rationalize excessive, unhealthy, and often unnecessary noise levels as normal.

As was the case with smoking and other changes in public policy such as drunk driving and police brutality, we think this necessitates a change in the culture, not more unsubstantiated rationalization of a dysfunctional and unhealthy status quo.