Drive around the entire neighborhood and look for potential sources for loud noises- trains, factories, etc.
True story:
For my first time living alone, I found a great apartment that was only 1 block to the freeway. It was perfect in everyway. I signed the lease, and moved in on a Friday evening.
Saturday morning around 7am the entire building is shaking and I hear a super loud jet engine.
Turns out, I had always accessed the apartment complex via that one freeway, and just driving just that one block. Well... if you drive 2 more blocks you run into a private airport! An airport! Who knew!!!
So, for 6 months I had to deal with planes flying literally directly overhead. I moved the second that lease expired!
That was over 10 years ago and my parents still give me grief about never noticing the airport next door.
