I have 3 chickens who free range during the day in my backyard in the middle of a very nice HOA just north of Dallas. I asked my neighbors on either side of me (no neighbors behind) if they minded. No problems there.
Dogs and cats are much noisier, smellier and time consuming than chickens are. Your neighbors won't even notice them. I haven't had any smell issues at all. I clean my coop out once a week just to make sure, but I bet I could last a month with out cleaning it and not have an odor problem. No noise problems, I check on them regularly to make sure they are still there, they are just so quiet!
As the opposition to having chickens in the first place (was my husbands idea), I have been converted to the belief that chickens properly cared for are the best pets ever, no matter where you live!