Background <p>Noise pollution has emerged as a prevalent environmental concern worldwide and has garnered attention from the World Health Organization (WHO), being listed as a primary priority among environmental stressors affecting public health. This study aims to investigate the association between noise annoyance and Health-related Quality of Life (HrQoL), while also investigating the variations in HrQoL between people who live close to and those who live far from industrial and highway traffic noise.</p> Methods <p>The HrQoL and noise annoyance of 385 residents at Manali, Chennai was assessed by a cross-sectional survey using WHO Health related Quality of Life BREF Questionnaire and ICBEN Noise annoyance questionnaire respectively. Chi square test and binary logistic regression were performed to identify the association between noise annoyance, proximity to noise source and HrQoL.</p> Results <p>There was a statistically significant variation in the overall HrQoL scores, physical and psychological health domain scores between participants living near noise sources and those living away from them. The results of binary logistic regression showed a strong and significant association between HrQoL and noise annoyance, proximity to noise source, and the pattern of noise exposure. Individuals living more than 500&#xa0;m away from industries and highways had 1.83 times higher odds of having a good HrQoL compared to those living nearby. Individuals who were not annoyed had substantially higher odds of good HrQoL ranging from 3.4 to 20.3 times compared to increasing levels of annoyance.</p> Conclusion <p>This study highlights the impact of perceived annoyance on HrQoL and provides valuable insights for community health initiatives, urban noise mitigation, and policy action, thereby contributing to the objectives of the United Nations SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being) and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).</p> Clinical trial registration <p>Not applicable.</p>