Townhouse
A multi-story city residence for wealthy families.
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.
- Type
- Residential building
- Historical use
- City residence of noble or wealthy families
- Region origin
- United Kingdom (older British usage)
- Modern definition
- Multi-floor single-family home on a small footprint
- Notable variety
- Brownstone townhouse (New York, Philadelphia, Boston)
Lore & Background
Historically, a townhouse was the city residence of a noble or wealthy family, who would own one or more country houses in which they lived for much of the year. From the 18th century, landowners and their servants would move to a townhouse during the social season, when major balls took place. In older British usage, the term originally referred to any type of city residence, normally in London, of someone whose main or largest residence was a country house.
Reader's Guide
The townhouse represents a significant form of urban housing, particularly for the wealthy, from the 18th century onward. In the United States and Canada, the term has two connotations: the older predates the automobile and denotes a house on a small footprint in a city, with multiple floors (sometimes six or more) providing large living space, often with servants' quarters. This design allowed residents to be within walking or mass-transit distance of business and industrial areas while maintaining luxury. Townhouses are expensive where detached single-family houses are uncommon, such as in New York City, Philadelphia, Montreal, and San Francisco. A brownstone townhouse is a particular variety found in New York and to some extent in Philadelphia and Boston. The legacy of the townhouse endures as a model of dense, elegant urban living that combines proximity to city amenities with spacious interiors.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Townhouse?
A Townhouse is a multi-story, single-family residential building that sits on a small footprint and is typically constructed in a continuous row alongside other similar units, a style often called terraced housing.
Where does the term Townhouse originate?
The phrase traces back to older British usage, where it simply meant the city dwelling of a noble or affluent family whose primary residence was a country estate, most commonly in London.
What role did a Townhouse play in historical social life?
Wealthy families would relocate to their townhouse during the social season so they could attend major balls, court events, and other urban gatherings while their country house stood empty.
What is a well-known variety of Townhouse?
The brownstone townhouse is one of the most recognizable subtypes, particularly associated with the streets of New York, Philadelphia, and Boston.
How is a Townhouse defined in modern U.S. and Canadian usage?
Today the term generally refers to a multi-floor, single-family home built on a compact lot, often arranged in a row with shared side walls, though an older pre-automobile meaning also persists in some regions.
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