I will never live in an apartment, since I can hear people walking upstairs or using the bathroom next door; I'm cursed with very good hearing.
I did the apartment thing while I was a young college lad, but I will never go back to living in such close quarters.
If I had limited funds, I would rent a room attached to a family house or rent a trailer in the boondocks
Townhouses are glorified apartments, with the same noise problems. I'm glad to hear there are other people out there who don't like all this racket.