I've lived in two apartments, both bottom floor. Like others have said, it depends on the buildings, how old they are and how insulated they are. Our first apartment, we never heard our next door neighbor, but when the lady above us was home, which was rarely, I swear she was herding elephants. Second place wasn't as bad, but we picked up weird sounds on the baby monitor we had and heard our neighbors doing the deed... Many times. Middle and top floors are warmer in the summer, require stairs with toddlers and possibly groceries, laundry, etc. I own a house now, but wish I still had a landlord or repairman to pay and fix everything that breaks!

I rent where I live it's not as easy to own a house like most places we pay 1695 for a two bedroom. We live in the top floor and I never hear my neighbors but they complain they can hear my footsteps and the baby falling down on her bottom. I have lived on the first floor and I didn't like it because it's noisy but I never heard my neighbors even talking just footsteps. Also it never seemed to bother my daughter but she's a heavy sleeper.

I live in a small town in central Arkansas. DH makes $10.25/hr so we live off $1400/month after taxes. There is no way we could afford more for rent.

I wish houses to rent were than inexpensive where we live! We pay $600 a month for a 2 BR duplex. Never hear the neighbors except when it's totally quiet and they walk on their stairs and vise versa. They only hear us walk the stairs.

If you don't mind me asking, where are you living? I'm in boston and the cheapest 2BRs start around $1200 here.

I only lived in them in college. They aren't too bad. Just keep in mind the number of steps will feel that much more carrying a toddler and groceries.

Whatever you do make sure you're at the top! Apartments really aren't that bad

I lived in a few they all r different look at the up keep of the place look at the cars in the parking lot but we were fine living in our we did have a person who played music a little loud but was always quiet after 8pm

We live in a duplex now we just moved in and before this we lived in an apartment that was a house split into 3 the bottom was split in half we were on the right and a neighbor on the left then the second floor was one apartment. The girl who lived above us had a 3 yr old who when she was there ( the girl is a nurse and works 12s and is gone alot or sleeping and her daughter stays with her parents or grandma) she would sound like she was tearing thee house down even late in the middle of the night at like midnight the house would even shake but it never bothered mckenzi and we got used to it. If she even yelled at her loud enough for us to hear it was just muffled i couldnt understand what she was even saying. As for the guy next store he was never home and quiet idk if he ever heard anything from our apartment he never said anything and neither did the girl above us. Our first place we were on the top floor and we never heard anything from anyone and they said all theyd here was us walking sometimes. It really all depends on how well the house is insulated. Here at our new place all we really here is the neighbors kids on the stairs or water in their bathroom. Its really not too bad like i said it all depends on the insulation and the people who live there. Our old landlord told us all about our neighbors before we even moved in.

Lol I would have the same worries! I'm a private person and how do you have a conversation with someone when you know they heard you do the deed last night... Awkward!!! I've never lived in an apt... My brother has though and of all his, I think the top floor was the nicest... It had the tallest ceilings and you could hardly hear any noise from anyone else... Good luck!