They usually only use the horn at crossings. Automated trains are grade separated. The SkyTrain rolls through Vancouver all night and you can hardly hear it.
Ignoring the fact there's no sales tax on many of the largest expenses (food, rent, healthcare), $14.70 + 10.4% (the highest sales tax in WA) is still lower than the lowest minimum wage in Washington, and in rural Oregon counties the minimum is only $13.70.
Well, not 100%, Rittenhouse didn't face a day of jail time. Though I guess he killed two people instead of burning a house down.