The setting for Nephi’s lament is important, because it needs to be explained how he will attract a crowd. Thus, Mormon tells us a little about where he lived, something that is extremely unusual in the Book of Mormon. Mormon doesn’t describe living spaces, presumably because he considered them so common as to not require explanation.
Nephi’s home is apparently somewhat different. He seems to live in a compound that has a fence around it, and some kind of raised tower in it. This general description does reflect what can be seen archaeologically in Mesoamerica, but only for the elite in the city center. This would not describe the typical dwelling place.
If it were a Mesoamerican home, the tower would have been a lower, truncated pyramid which would be open on the top platform. This would be the reason that Nephi could be seen, and heard, by those passing. The fact that it is on the road to the market also meant that many would pass. The road to the market would be one of the most heavily traveled roads.