Often within a single genus of evergreen plants is a wide variation of growth rates. A slow growth rate may be acceptable for the specimen plant in the backyard, but a noisy street requires quick attention. Another important criterion is the way the plant branches. Some evergreens may grow fast but may not produce many branches, requiring frequent pruning. They usually take longer to fill out, since pruning removes much of the branches.
Some plants tend to grow upright with little lateral growth.
This can work for a quick vertical effect but remember to plant them close together so they will form a screen. Other plants grow high and wide. The size and density of leaves are other important considerations. For instance, pine trees are evergreen, grow fast and branch profusely, but don't make the best sound barrier since they don't have dense leaf canopies. It's native to the Southeast and is low-maintenance.