Some days, an urban area can quickly turn into an insufferable cacophony. Construction crews are at work. One of your neighbours is finally tackling a project that requires power tools, while another is using a motorized device to do yard work. Add a motorcyclist revving up for no reason or an incessant horn honker, and the situation is not particularly enjoyable—especially for those who are lucky enough to work from home.
Our latest look at noise in Canada shows that the situation is not improving. More than three in five Canadians (63 per cent, up nine points since our previous survey in 2023) say their city or town has become noisier over the past year. Those aged 18-34 are slightly more likely to believe that peace and quiet in their city or town has been harder to attain (67 per cent) than their counterparts aged 35-54 (63 per cent) or aged 55 and over (59 per cent).
More than two-thirds of British Columbians and Ontarians (68 per cent and 67 per cent, respectively) say their city or town is noisier than a year ago. The proportions are lower in Alberta (64 per cent), Atlantic Canada (61 per cent), Saskatchewan and Manitoba (also 61 per cent), and Quebec (56 per cent).
Almost half of Canadians (46 per cent, up three points) say their street has become noisier in the past year, while just over a third (34 per cent, up two points) feel the same way about their home. In each of these instances, we see the same generational divide we observed on cities or towns: the youngest adults are perturbed by noise more than their older counterparts.
The main nuisance that has bothered Canadians at home over the past year is unnecessary noise from vehicles, such as motorcycles and cars revving up (39 per cent, up seven points); followed by dogs barking (35 per cent, up five points); a car alarm (34 per cent, up 12 points); and construction-related noises such as roofing, land clearing and use of heavy machinery (33 per cent, up four points).
These noises do not affect everyone equally. While about two in five Canadians who voted for the Liberal Party (39 per cent) or NDP (40 per cent) in 2025 report being bothered by unnecessary noise from vehicles, only 32 per cent of Conservative Party voters express the same view. Women are more likely to be upset by dogs barking (38 per cent) and car alarms (37 per cent) than men (31 per cent for each noise). British Columbia leads the country on enduring construction-related noise (38 per cent, followed by Atlantic Canada (35 per cent) and Quebec (34 per cent).
Canadians report other noises that bothered them over the past year, such as loud people outside their home (28 per cent, up five points); yard work, such as lawnmowers and leaf blowers (26 per cent, up six points); yelling or screaming at a nearby home (24 per cent, up four points); loud music playing inside a vehicle (24 per cent, up two points); power tools, such as electric saws and sanders (also 24 per cent, up five points); drivers honking the horn excessively (22 per cent, down one point); loud music at a nearby home (21 per cent, unchanged); a loud gathering or party at a nearby home (21 per cent, up five points); fireworks (20 per cent, unchanged); a home alarm (12 per cent, up one point); and cats meowing (eight per cent, up one point).
The regional differences on some of these minor nuisances are noteworthy. Quebec emerges as a particularly serene province, with little fluctuation away from the national average. Saskatchewan and Manitoba are significantly ahead on three nuisances: yard work (34 per cent), yelling and screaming at nearby homes (29 per cent), and fireworks (25 per cent).
British Columbia climbs to 29 per cent on power tools, perhaps benefitting from a climate that allows residents to partake on do-it-yourself projects more often than in other parts of Canada. B.C. and Alberta are ahead on excessive horn honking (25 per cent each), while Ontario jumps to 24 per cent on loud parties and Atlantic Canada reaches double digits (13 per cent) on noisy cats.
Although 86 per cent of Canadians recalled at least one noise that bothered them while at home, just over two-thirds (68 per cent) chose not to do anything about it over the past year. The most popular solution remains wearing earplugs to mitigate noise while inside the home (17 per cent, up one point), followed by acquiring noise cancelling headphones or earphones (11 per cent, unchanged). Fewer than one in ten Canadians either reported noise concerns to the police (eight per cent, down one point) or moved away from their previous home because of noise (six per cent, unchanged).
The results suggest that Canadians are learning to coexist with noise. While we see significant increases in the nuisances that we are exposed to at home, there is little change in the proportion of Canadians who are relying on a buffer. Still, it continues to be astounding that the main noise people remember—vehicles revving up—is both unnecessary and unappealing.
Mario Canseco is president of Research Co.
Results are based on an online survey conducted from June 17-19, 2025, among 1,000 adults in Canada. The data has been statistically weighted according to Canadian census figures for age, gender and region in Canada. The margin of error—which measures sample variability—is +/- 3.1 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.
