Townhouse vs Duplex
Townhouses and duplexes are different types of residential constructions. A duplex is a house with separate entrances for two families, while a townhouse is a building that accommodates multiple families. A townhouse is characterized by terraced construction, hence its other name, terraced housing. In contrast, a duplex does not need to have terraces and simply requires separate entrances for two families.
Duplex houses can include two-story houses with a self-contained apartment on each floor or side-by-side apartments sharing a common wall. On the other hand, townhouses are constructed as terraced apartment buildings. In some countries, duplex houses are viewed as a single dwelling unit spread over two floors connected by an indoor staircase. In contrast, a townhouse is a single building with several dwellings sharing common spaces.
In summary, a duplex dwelling is a building that contains two dwelling units, one placed above the other, with each having a separate entrance. A townhouse, however, has multiple dwellings, not necessarily placed one above the other, and each dwelling has a separate entrance.
Key Takeaways
- A duplex is a house with separate entrances for two families, while a townhouse accommodates multiple families.
- Townhouses are characterized by terraced construction, while duplexes do not require terraces.
- A main difference between townhouses and duplexes is that townhouse owners own the land underneath, whereas a duplex has a single owner purchasing the land underneath.
