Town vs. Suburb — What's the Difference?

A populated center with local services.

A bedroom community with a focus on residential living.

An area with its own community identity.

A residential district on the city's edge.

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.

A peripheral area with dependent local services.

A population center that is larger than a village and smaller than a city.

An outlying area of a city, typically less dense.

A territorial and political unit governed by a town meeting, especially in New England.

A community within commuting distance of a city.

(Informal) A city

A suburb (or suburban area or suburbia) is a mixed-use or residential area, existing either as part of a city/urban area, or as a separate residential community within commuting distance of one. Suburbs might have their own political or legal jurisdiction, especially in the United States, but this is not always the case, especially in the United Kingdom where most suburbs are located within the administrative boundaries of cities.

Chiefly British A rural village that has a market or fair periodically.

An outlying district of a city, especially a residential one

The residents of a town

A usually residential area or community outlying a city.

An area that is more densely populated or developed than the surrounding area

Suburbs The usually residential region around a major city; the environs.

The residents of a community in which a university or college is located, as opposed to the students and faculty

A residential area located on the outskirts of a city or large town that usually includes businesses that cater to its residents; such as schools, grocery stores, shopping centers, restaurants, convenience stores, etc.

A group of prairie dog burrows.

(by extension) The outer part; the environment.

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)

Any subdivision of a conurbation, not necessarily on the periphery.

Any more urbanized centre than the place of reference.

An outlying part of a city or town; a smaller place immediately adjacent to a city; in the plural, the region which is on the confines of any city or large town; as, a house stands in the suburbs; a garden situated in the suburbs of Paris.

A rural settlement in which a market was held at least once a week.

Hence, the confines; the outer part; the environment.

The residents (as opposed to gown: the students, faculty, etc.) of a community which is the site of a university.

A residential district located on the outskirts of a city

(colloquial) Used to refer to a town or similar entity under discussion.

A major city, especially one where the speaker is located.

(legal) A municipal organization, such as a corporation, defined by the laws of the entity of which it is a part.

(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.

A farm or farmstead; also, a court or farmyard.

London, especially central London.

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.

Any number or collection of houses to which belongs a regular market, and which is not a city or the see of a bishop.

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.

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.

A township; the whole territory within certain limits, less than those of a country.

The court end of London; - commonly with the.

The metropolis or its inhabitants; as, in winter the gentleman lives in town; in summer, in the country.

A farm or farmstead; also, a court or farmyard.

An urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city;

An administrative division of a county;

The people living in a municipality smaller than a city;

A self-governing urban area.

A municipality smaller than a city.

A residential and commercial hub in a rural or suburban area.

A suburb is a residential area located on the outskirts of a city or large town.

A town is a populated area with self-governance, typically with its own municipal services.

Some suburbs may have local councils, but they often fall under the jurisdiction of a larger city's government.

Yes, it is common for suburb residents to commute to nearby towns or cities for work.

Suburban sprawl refers to the expansion of residential suburbs into previously rural areas.

Many towns have a downtown or main street that serves as a central hub for business and culture.

Over time, some suburbs develop enough infrastructure to become towns, but this varies by region.

Towns often have parks, community centers, and recreational sports facilities.

Towns are considered urban, while suburbs are a mix of urban and residential, often with a more relaxed setting.

Yes, towns offer more independence and local services, while suburbs are more residential and peaceful.

Suburbs are typically considered part of metropolitan areas due to their proximity to cities.

The cost of living in suburbs can be lower due to less congestion and lower property costs, but this is not a rule.

Towns grow through local businesses, industries, and sometimes tourism, depending on their size and location.

Property taxes can vary widely and depend on local government structures and services provided.

Towns may have their own school districts, while suburban schools might be part of a larger district shared with a city.