Townhouse

A townhouse, sometimes called a townhome, is a multi-story single-family home built close together in a row, a form of terraced housing. In older British usage, the term originally meant any city residence—typically in London—belonging to someone whose main home was a country house. Historically, a townhouse was the urban dwelling of a noble or wealthy family who owned one or more country estates. They would move into the townhouse during the social season, when major balls were held.

In the United States and Canada, the term has two meanings. The older meaning, predating cars, refers to a house on a small city lot. Because it has multiple floors—sometimes six or more—it offers generous living space, often including servants' quarters.

Its small footprint allows it to be within walking distance or a short mass-transit ride from business and industrial areas, while still being luxurious enough for wealthy residents. Townhouses are expensive in cities where detached single-family homes are rare, such as New York City, Philadelphia, Montreal, and San Francisco. A brownstone townhouse is a specific type found in New York and, to some extent, in Philadelphia and Boston.