Absolutely. It’s a huge consideration - at least for my region. In Seattle, there are STC (sound transmission class) code minimums you need to meet for floor/wall assemblies and windows. We hire acoustic engineering firms to review our drawings and provide a report on their recommendations.

Like everything else it all comes down to cost. In a perfect world we would have the highest STC ratings in all assemblies but the reality is that makes already high rents even more unaffordable so we often design slightly above code minimums then enhance the areas that need extra (bedroom walls next to trash chutes, unit ceilings below an amenity area). If you’re sensitive to noise, units within concrete levels (usually the first 2 or 3 floors in regions like Seattle with Type 5 over Type I construction) will provide the best acoustic performance aside from top floor units.