Town vs. Borough — What's the Difference?
By Fiza Rafique & Urooj Arif — Updated on May 1, 2024
Town is a population center smaller than a city but larger than a village, often with a local government; a borough is a subdivision of a city or town with its own governance or administrative functions.
Difference Between Town and Borough
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
A town typically refers to a moderately populated area that is larger than a village and smaller than a city. It generally has a degree of self-governance and distinct geographical boundaries. In contrast, a borough is often a term used within larger cities to denote a sub-division that manages local administrative functions, such as in New York City.
Towns usually serve as the central hub for economic, social, and cultural activities in their surrounding areas, providing essential services like schools, markets, and healthcare facilities. Whereas, boroughs, while they can perform similar functions, are more about administrative convenience within a larger urban context, often having their own local government and sometimes unique services.
In the United States, the term "town" is used differently across states; in some states, it's a form of municipal government, similar to a township. On the other hand, a borough in the U.S. can mean an incorporated municipality — essentially another form of town — or a unique administrative division as seen in states like Alaska and New York.
In the UK, a borough is traditionally a town with a royal charter, giving it special privileges and, historically, the right to elect its own MP. Towns, unless designated as boroughs, do not have these privileges and are simply significant population centers without specific legal statuses.
Globally, the distinction can vary even more. For instance, in other parts of the Commonwealth, such as Canada, towns are straightforward localities with defined boundaries, while the term borough is rarely used, reflecting its more British legal connotations.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
A populated area larger than a village but smaller than a city, often self-governed.
A subdivision of a city or an independent municipality with its own local governance.
Governance
Can have its own local government or council.
Usually part of a larger city's government or an independent local government.
Size
Generally smaller than a city but larger than a village.
Size can vary; often part of a larger city.
Function
Serves as a local hub for commerce, administration, and services.
Administrative convenience within a city, or distinct local governance if independent.
Global Usage
Commonly used in the US, UK, Canada, and other Commonwealth countries.
Primarily used in the UK and US, with specific meanings in local contexts.
Compare with Definitions
Town
A populated area with its own governance, smaller than a city.
We drove through a small town that had its own mayor and town council.
Borough
A town with special corporate status or privileges in the UK.
Reading was granted borough status in the 13th century.
Town
A locality with its own administrative functions.
The town hall meeting addressed local concerns and planning issues.
Borough
An administrative unit in Alaska, similar to a county elsewhere.
The North Slope Borough covers a vast area of northern Alaska.
Town
A community with fixed boundaries and local services.
The town provides waste disposal and police services to its residents.
Borough
A term used to describe one of five administrative divisions in New York City.
Queens is the largest borough in New York City by area.
Town
A significant urban area without the status of city.
The town is known for its historic buildings and annual fair.
Borough
A self-governing incorporated municipality in some U.S. states.
The borough council voted to increase local taxes.
Town
A hub for regional economic and social activities.
The town center features a variety of shops and restaurants.
Borough
An administrative division within a city.
She lives in the Brooklyn borough of New York City.
Town
A town is a human settlement. Towns are generally larger than villages and smaller than cities, though the criteria to distinguish between them vary considerably in different parts of the world.
Borough
A borough is an administrative division in various English-speaking countries. In principle, the term borough designates a self-governing walled town, although in practice, official use of the term varies widely.
Town
A population center that is larger than a village and smaller than a city.
Borough
A self-governing incorporated town in some US states, such as New Jersey.
Town
A territorial and political unit governed by a town meeting, especially in New England.
Borough
One of the five administrative units of New York City.
Town
(Informal) A city
New York is a big town.
Borough
A civil division of the state of Alaska that is the equivalent of a county in most other US states.
Town
Chiefly British A rural village that has a market or fair periodically.
Borough
A town having a municipal corporation and certain rights, such as self-government.
Town
The residents of a town
The whole town was upset at the news.
Borough
A town that sends a representative to Parliament.
Town
An area that is more densely populated or developed than the surrounding area
Going into town to shop.
Borough
A medieval group of fortified houses that formed a town having special privileges and rights.
Town
The residents of a community in which a university or college is located, as opposed to the students and faculty
A dispute pitting town against gown.
Borough
(obsolete) A fortified town.
Town
A group of prairie dog burrows.
Borough
(rare) A town or city.
Town
A settlement; an area with residential districts, shops and amenities, and its own local government; especially one larger than a village and smaller than a city, historically enclosed by a fence or walls, with total populations ranging from several hundred to more than a hundred thousand (as of the early 21st century)
This town is really dangerous because these youngsters have Beretta handguns.
Borough
A town having a municipal corporation and certain traditional rights.
Town
Any more urbanized centre than the place of reference.
I'll be in Yonkers, then I'm driving into town to see the Knicks at the Garden tonight.
Borough
An administrative district in some cities, e.g., London.
Town
A rural settlement in which a market was held at least once a week.
Borough
An administrative unit of a city which, under most circumstances according to state or national law, would be considered a larger or more powerful entity; most commonly used in American English to define the five counties that make up New York City.
Town
The residents (as opposed to gown: the students, faculty, etc.) of a community which is the site of a university.
Borough
Other similar administrative units in cities and states in various parts of the world.
Town
(colloquial) Used to refer to a town or similar entity under discussion.
Call me when you get to town.
Borough
A district in Alaska having powers similar to a county.
Town
A major city, especially one where the speaker is located.
Borough
An association of men who gave pledges or sureties to the king for the good behaviour of each other.
Town
(legal) A municipal organization, such as a corporation, defined by the laws of the entity of which it is a part.
Borough
In England, an incorporated town that is not a city; also, a town that sends members to parliament; in Scotland, a body corporate, consisting of the inhabitants of a certain district, erected by the sovereign, with a certain jurisdiction; in America, an incorporated town or village, as in Pennsylvania and Connecticut.
Town
(obsolete) An enclosure which surrounded the mere homestead or dwelling of the lord of the manor; by extension, the whole of the land which constituted the domain.
Borough
The collective body of citizens or inhabitants of a borough; as, the borough voted to lay a tax.
Town
A farm or farmstead; also, a court or farmyard.
Borough
An association of men who gave pledges or sureties to the king for the good behavior of each other.
Town
London, especially central London.
Borough
One of the administrative divisions of a large city
Town
Formerly: (a) An inclosure which surrounded the mere homestead or dwelling of the lord of the manor. [Obs.] (b) The whole of the land which constituted the domain. [Obs.] (c) A collection of houses inclosed by fences or walls.
Borough
An English town that forms the constituency of a member of Parliament
Town
Any number or collection of houses to which belongs a regular market, and which is not a city or the see of a bishop.
Town
Any collection of houses larger than a village, and not incorporated as a city; also, loosely, any large, closely populated place, whether incorporated or not, in distinction from the country, or from rural communities.
God made the country, and man made the town.
Town
The body of inhabitants resident in a town; as, the town voted to send two representatives to the legislature; the town voted to lay a tax for repairing the highways.
Town
A township; the whole territory within certain limits, less than those of a country.
Town
The court end of London; - commonly with the.
Town
The metropolis or its inhabitants; as, in winter the gentleman lives in town; in summer, in the country.
Always hankering after the diversions of the town.
Stunned with his giddy larum half the town.
Town
A farm or farmstead; also, a court or farmyard.
Town
An urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city;
They drive through town on their way to work
Town
An administrative division of a county;
The town is responsible for snow removal
Town
The people living in a municipality smaller than a city;
The whole town cheered the team
Common Curiosities
Do towns and boroughs have different types of government structures?
Yes, towns often operate under a mayor-council system or a town meeting system, while boroughs might use a variety of structures, depending on their size and the laws of the state or country.
Are there towns within boroughs?
In places like New York City, what are traditionally considered towns may exist within boroughs as neighborhoods or community districts.
What historical significance do boroughs have in the UK?
Historically, boroughs in the UK were settlements with a royal charter allowing them special privileges, including representation in Parliament.
Are boroughs always part of a larger city?
Not always. In some states like New Jersey and Pennsylvania, boroughs are independent municipalities that are not part of a larger city.
How do property taxes compare between towns and boroughs?
Property taxes in towns are usually set by the town government, while in boroughs, taxes can be influenced by both borough and city-level governance, leading to potentially higher rates.
What is the economic role of towns compared to boroughs?
Towns often act as the primary economic centers of their regions, providing and supporting local businesses and services, whereas boroughs typically focus on administrative roles within a larger urban economy.
What cultural differences exist between towns and boroughs?
Towns may have distinct local cultures and identities shaped by their history and community, whereas boroughs, especially those within larger cities, often reflect a more diverse or cosmopolitan culture.
Can you find boroughs outside of the United States?
Yes, the term borough is also used in the UK and historically in other Commonwealth countries, though the specific administrative functions and significance can differ.
What legal powers do towns and boroughs have?
Towns typically manage local services such as police, fire departments, and public schools, whereas boroughs may share these responsibilities with a larger city government or handle them independently if they are self-governing.
What are the schooling responsibilities for towns vs. boroughs?
Towns generally manage their own school systems, whereas schooling in boroughs may be managed by the borough itself or integrated into a larger city’s school district.
What role do towns and boroughs play in regional planning?
Towns often have significant autonomy in planning and zoning decisions that shape their development, whereas boroughs may be involved in broader urban planning initiatives coordinated by the larger city.
How does population affect the status of towns and boroughs?
In general, towns can grow and potentially become cities if they reach a certain population size, while boroughs maintain their status regardless of population changes, as they are defined by administrative boundaries.
Can boroughs have their own courts?
In some cases, boroughs can have their own judicial systems, especially if they are legally recognized as municipalities, while towns typically have local courts for civil and minor criminal matters.
How do emergency services differ between towns and boroughs?
Towns typically have their own police and fire departments, while boroughs might share these services with a larger city or have their own, depending on the borough's governance structure.
Is a borough considered urban or rural?
Boroughs are generally considered urban or suburban, especially those within larger cities, whereas towns can be either urban, suburban, or rural, depending on their location and size.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
