Townhomes and townhouses are two different words to describe the same type of housing - a condensed single-family home. Fit for urban living, townhomes and townhouses provide many of the same aesthetic qualities of a two-story home. While apartments are one-story units, townhomes feature similar floor plan square footage, but split between two stories with the communal rooms (kitchen, dining room, and living room) on the bottom floor and private quarters (bedrooms) on the top floor.
While most townhomes are for rent, there are also options to purchase - similar to condos versus condos for rent.
Townhomes provide a nice change from the typical apartment for rent. When living with roommates, having a clear separation between the communal rooms and bedrooms helps create privacy and makes it easier for a roommate to find solace if the other roommates have people over. While you share a wall with neighbors, you will not have anyone above you or below, so you can say goodbye to listening to your neighbors footsteps.
Townhomes for rent are most commonly two bedrooms, but three bedroom and four bedroom townhomes are out there, just a bit more rare. Townhomes often come with a small patio, porch, and occasionally upstairs balcony that provides options for outdoor storage, a barbeque, or a place to store a bike. While the outdoor space is rarely bigger than 50 square feet, it’s often quite useful. A full bathroom (sink, toilet and shower/bath) is often on the top floor and a half bathroom (just a sink and toilet) are often on the bottom floor underneath the staircase.
Like apartments, townhomes are available for different types of renters with different incomes. For example, individuals that make below a certain income relative to their area may be eligible for low income townhomes. Like low income apartments, these types of townhomes are just like regular townhomes, but receive subsidies from housing programs to provide affordable townhomes to those in need.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, luxury townhomes and townhouses are available for those looking for the finer rental amenities. Some of these types of amenities might include 3 story floor plans, attached garages, upgraded finishes, lighting fixtures, and appliances, gated communities.