AUSTIN, TEXAS — Fast-growing Austin often ranks highly on lists illustrating positive dynamics that serve as bragging rights fodder for local politicians and civic boosters — things like its robust gross domestic product, prized demographics, brisk commercial and residential development and the like. But a new list that came out on Thursday, not so much.

Analysts at a site called Improvenet by Craftjack set out to determine the prevalence of annoying neighbors at more than two dozen studied cities. To that end, 2,500 people from across the U.S. were interviewed to assess their feelings toward their neighbors. Here's the decidedly not chamber-of-commerce-like conclusion: Of the surveyed cities, Austin was third-ranked in having the most annoying neighbors in the country.

After survey participants were asked to specify what it is about their neighbors that sticks in their craw, Austin ranked as the worst for smoke from grilling, worst for missing newspapers/mail and worst for holiday decorations. The perceived prevalence of annoying people extended to the canine world, as Austin emerged as the worst cities for aggressive dogs, according to the report. Front yard decoration seen in South Austin, circa 2014. Photo by Tony Cantú/Patch staff

And don't let that laid-back vibe so prevalent in Austin fool you (if the study is to be believed): Austin ranked 4th in terms of incidences of confrontations with neighbors. This finding comes against a national backdrop where 54 percent of Americans report having confronted a nuisance neighbor, researchers found. But serenity now! Austinites can take solace in learning that Dallas emerged in the top ranking in the most-annoying-neighbors list. Other Texas cities weren't far behind, with Houston ranked ninth and San Antonio ranked 14th.

Overall, here's what annoyance sleuths found: "Without question, noise is the leading offense. Loud music is the top culprit in that category, and no city has the volume turned up higher than Houston. People also cite loud kids, pets and TVs as top ten issues, but drowning those out are the loud voices of our fellow adults. Loud talking and shouting is the second most annoying thing that neighbors do!"

Unlike Houston, Austin — self-described as the "live music capital fo the world" — embraces music. So take that, H--town.

Then there's the national grump quotient: "General grumpiness also made the top ten, along with parking issues and dog poop (we're looking at you, Nashville)," analysts wrote in their report. "Other modes of annoyance include smells (tobacco, pets, cooking) and filth (overflowing garbage, dirty yard, dirty home exterior). As for common annoyances that are not-so-annoying, Americans are forgiving when it comes to personal expression, specifically in the form of yard signs, holiday decorations, and… nudity in and around the property." In what seemed like a good idea at the time that is now, years hence, clearly annoying, Austin resident Tony Cantú hanged a plastic holiday wreath with affixed lights purchased at pharmacy store on his door. Photo by Tony Cantú/Patch staff