I have lived in either an apartment or now a medium priced condo for ~10 years, and I can't imagine having issues with noise in either one. I am not super sensitive to awareness of other human beings nearby, I am more likely to be comforted by this than bothered. Still, when I do hear noise it's not from other units in the building, but from open windows in other nearby buildings, or of course ordinary city noises like police, aid car, garbage collection, etc.
I second the preference for a well managed apartment to a condo, because it will be managed by a profit conscious ownership/manager, not by an group of amateurs that particularly in areas with retirees may have the old busy-body thing working. I did buy a condo, because this is a dynamic urban rental and real estate purchase market, and since I want to stay in this small area of the central city, I did not want to get priced out. I looked for a building with middle aged to younger people and I'm the oldest in my building. Middle class working people rarely have time for vendettas or stupid pet money-wasting projects
It pays to think about what other people will likely want as time goes on. I could not afford to go back into any of the prime urban environments I rented in before I became a homeowner in my 30s, except Seattle. And I have been reasonably successful. None of the tthese urban neighborhoods have become more affordable when adjusted for inflation. All have become much more expensive. My desire to own was based entirely on defense, not on any desire to own my home or choose my own wall colors or do remodeling. The manager's taste is likely at least as good as mine.
Imagine someone who has been renting in prime London neighborhoods for 40 years- he had better be quite well off to compete in today's market.
Ha