A townhouse (also called a townhome or town house) is a type of multi-story residential building that shares at least one wall with an adjacent unit. It typically has a small footprint but extends vertically over two or more floors. Townhouses are often arranged in rows, attached side-by-side, and each unit usually has its own private entrance from the outside
. Historically, the term "townhouse" referred to the city residence of wealthy families who also owned country houses. Today, it generally describes a single-family home that is attached to others, offering a blend of urban living with the privacy of a house. Unlike apartments, townhouses have multiple floors and their own external doors rather than access through shared hallways or balconies
. Townhouses are common in urban and suburban areas and may be part of homeowner associations (HOAs) that manage shared amenities such as pools and gyms. Ownership usually includes the interior and exterior of the unit and sometimes a small yard, but the land is often shared with neighbors, especially in developments on strata or common titles
. In summary, a townhouse is a vertically oriented, attached single-family home with shared walls, multiple floors, and its own entrance, combining aspects of apartment living and detached houses
