A townhome (also called townhouse or town house) is a multi-story residential dwelling that shares at least one wall with adjacent homes, typically arranged in a row or a cluster. Unlike apartments or condos, townhomes are usually individually owned, including the structure and the land it sits on, and have their own private entrances
. Key characteristics of a townhome include:
- Multiple floors, often two or three stories tall
- Shared walls with neighboring units, but no units above or below in most cases
- A small footprint that maximizes vertical space
- Often located in urban or suburban areas, sometimes with small yards or patios
- May be part of a homeowners association (HOA) that manages common areas and exterior maintenance
- Offers a balance between the privacy and ownership of a single-family home and the convenience and affordability of attached housing
Historically, the term "townhouse" referred to the city residence of wealthy families who also owned country estates. Today, it generally means attached single-family homes designed to mimic detached houses but with shared walls to save space and cost
. In summary, a townhome is a vertically oriented, attached home with shared walls, individual ownership, and multiple floors, providing a middle ground between detached houses and apartments
