House vs. Apartment: What's the Difference?
Edited by Harlon Moss || By Janet White || Updated on November 1, 2023
A house is a standalone structure owned or rented for living, while an apartment is a self-contained unit in a building, typically rented.
Key Differences
A house refers to a standalone residential structure that may be single or multi-storied, providing a living space for individuals or families. It generally has its yard and offers more privacy and space. In contrast, an apartment is a self-contained housing unit that occupies part of a building, usually on a single level, offering less privacy and typically less space than a house. Houses may be more suitable for those looking for more space and privacy, while apartments can be more fitting for those seeking less maintenance and lower costs.
The ownership and financial aspects associated with houses and apartments also significantly differ. A house is often purchased, making the occupant the owner, who is responsible for maintenance, repairs, and property taxes. An apartment is typically rented, and the occupant pays rent to a landlord who handles most of the maintenance and repairs. For people seeking to avoid the responsibilities and costs associated with ownership, renting an apartment may be more appealing, while purchasing a house may be more suitable for those looking for stability and investment in property.
When considering amenities and community features, houses and apartments showcase variations. Houses usually offer a greater degree of customization and flexibility in terms of layout and design, allowing occupants to modify the structure to suit their preferences. Apartments, however, generally have fixed layouts with shared amenities like gyms, pools, and communal spaces, offering a sense of community and additional features without the need for individual maintenance. Those seeking a sense of community and additional amenities may find apartments more appealing, while individuals looking for customization and flexibility may prefer houses.
The location and lifestyle preferences also play a crucial role in distinguishing between houses and apartments. Houses are typically located in suburban or rural areas, offering a quieter, more family-oriented environment. Apartments are often situated in urban areas, close to workplaces, entertainment, and public transport, catering to a more dynamic and social lifestyle. Depending on individual needs and preferences regarding lifestyle and location, one may opt for the tranquility of a house or the vibrancy of an apartment.
Houses usually offer more outdoor spaces like yards and gardens, allowing for gardening, outdoor activities, and pets. Apartments might not offer extensive outdoor spaces but might have balconies or shared outdoor areas. The availability of outdoor space might be a deciding factor for many in choosing between a house and an apartment, with a house being more suitable for those who prioritize having their outdoor spaces.
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Comparison Chart
Structure and Space
Standalone structure, more space and privacy
Part of a building, less space and privacy
Ownership and Financial Responsibility
Often owned, owner responsible for maintenance and taxes
Typically rented, landlord handles maintenance
Amenities and Community Features
Customizable, individual amenities
Fixed layout, shared amenities like gyms and pools
Location and Lifestyle
Typically in suburban or rural areas, quieter environment
Often in urban areas, closer to entertainment and workplaces
Outdoor Spaces
Offers yards and gardens
Might have balconies or shared outdoor spaces
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House and Apartment Definitions
House
A standalone residential structure.
The house at the end of the street has a red door.
Apartment
A self-contained housing unit in a building.
She rents a two-bedroom apartment downtown.
House
Typically located in suburban or rural areas.
Their house is in a quiet suburban neighborhood.
Apartment
Typically located in urban areas.
His apartment is close to many restaurants and shops.
House
May have its yard and garden.
The house has a beautiful backyard garden.
Apartment
Has a fixed layout with less customization.
Her apartment has a modern, open layout.
House
A structure serving as a dwelling for one or more persons, especially for a family.
Apartment
Occupants pay rent to a landlord.
They pay their apartment rent at the beginning of each month.
House
A household or family.
Apartment
A room or suite of rooms designed as a residence and generally located in a building occupied by more than one household.
House
Something, such as a burrow or shell, that serves as a shelter or habitation for a wild animal.
Apartment
An apartment building
A row of high-rise apartments.
House
A dwelling for a group of people, such as students or members of a religious community, who live together as a unit
A sorority house.
Apartment
A room.
House
A building that functions as the primary shelter or location of something
A carriage house.
The lion house at the zoo.
Apartment
Apartments Chiefly British A suite of rooms within a larger building set aside for a particular purpose or person.
House
A building devoted to a particular activity
A customs house.
A house of worship.
Apartment
A complete domicile occupying only part of a building, especially one for rent; a flat.
Apartment dwellers
House
A facility, such as a theater or restaurant, that provides entertainment or food for the public
A movie house.
The specialty of the house.
Apartment
(archaic) A suite of rooms within a domicile, designated for a specific person or persons and including a bedroom.
House
The seating area in such an establishment
Dimmed the lights in the house to signal the start of the show.
Apartment
(obsolete) A division of an enclosure that is separate from others; a compartment
House
The audience or patrons of such an establishment
A full house.
Apartment
A conceptual space used for separation in the threading architecture. Objects in one apartment cannot directly access those in another, but must use a proxy.
House
A commercial firm
A brokerage house.
Apartment
A room in a building; a division in a house, separated from others by partitions.
House
A publishing company
A house that specializes in cookbooks.
Apartment
A set or suite of rooms.
House
A gambling casino.
Apartment
A compartment.
House
(Slang) A house of prostitution.
Apartment
A room or suite of rooms in a building comprising a dwelling unit separate from others in the building, and typically having its own separate bath, sanitary, and kitchen facilities. Such apartments are in most cases rented from the owner by those dwelling in them.
House
A residential college within a university.
Apartment
A suite of rooms usually on one floor of an apartment house
House
Often House A legislative or deliberative assembly.
Apartment
Offers shared amenities like pools and gyms.
The apartment complex has a communal swimming pool.
House
The hall or chamber in which such an assembly meets.
House
A quorum of such an assembly.
House
Often House A family line including ancestors and descendants, especially a royal or noble family
The House of Orange.
House
One of the 12 parts into which the heavens are divided in astrology.
House
The sign of the zodiac indicating the seat or station of a planet in the heavens. Also called mansion.
House
House music.
House
To provide living quarters for; lodge
The cottage housed ten students.
House
To shelter, keep, or store in a house or other structure
A library housing rare books.
House
To fit (something) into a socket or mortise.
House
(Nautical) To secure or stow safely.
House
To reside; dwell.
House
To take shelter.
House
A structure built or serving as an abode of human beings.
This is my house and my family's ancestral home.
House
An apartment building within a public housing estate.
House
(uncountable) Size and quality of residential accommodations.
House
A building intended to contain a single household, as opposed to an apartment or condominium or building containing these.
House
The people who live in a house; a household.
House
A building used for something other than a residence (typically with qualifying word).
The former carriage house had been made over into a guest house.
On arriving at the zoo, we immediately headed for the monkey house.
House
A place of business; a company or organisation, especially a printing press, a publishing company, or a couturier.
A small publishing house would have a contract with an independent fulfillment house.
House
A place of public accommodation or entertainment, especially a public house, an inn, a restaurant, a theatre, or a casino; or the management thereof.
One more, sir, then I'll have to stop serving you – rules of the house, I'm afraid.
The house always wins.
House
(historical) A workhouse.
House
The audience for a live theatrical or similar performance.
House
A theatre.
After her swan-song, there wasn't a dry eye in the house.
House
(politics) A building where a deliberative assembly meets; whence the assembly itself, particularly a component of a legislature.
The petition was so ridiculous that the house rejected it after minimal debate.
House
A dynasty; a family with its ancestors and descendants, especially a royal or noble one.
A curse lay upon the House of Atreus.
House
(metaphorical) A place of rest or repose.
House
A grouping of schoolchildren for the purposes of competition in sports and other activities.
I was a member of Spenser house when I was at school.
House
An animal's shelter or den, or the shell of an animal such as a snail, used for protection.
House
(astrology) One of the twelve divisions of an astrological chart.
House
(cartomancy) The fourth Lenormand card.
House
A square on a chessboard, regarded as the proper place of a piece.
House
(curling) The four concentric circles where points are scored on the ice.
House
Lotto; bingo.
House
(uncountable) A children's game in which the players pretend to be members of a household.
As the babysitter, Emma always acted as the mother whenever the kids demanded to play house.
House
A small stand of trees in a swamp.
House
(sudoku) A set of cells in a Sudoku puzzle which must contain each digit exactly once, such as a row, column, or 3×3 box in classic Sudoku.
House
(music genre) House music.
House
(transitive) To keep within a structure or container.
The car is housed in the garage.
House
(transitive) To admit to residence; to harbor.
House
To take shelter or lodging; to abide; to lodge.
House
To dwell within one of the twelve astrological houses.
House
(transitive) To contain or cover mechanical parts.
House
(transitive) To contain one part of an object for the purpose of locating the whole.
The joists were housed into the side walls, rather than being hung from them.
House
(obsolete) To drive to a shelter.
House
(obsolete) To deposit and cover, as in the grave.
House
(nautical) To stow in a safe place; to take down and make safe.
To house the upper spars
House
To eat.
House
A structure intended or used as a habitation or shelter for animals of any kind; but especially, a building or edifice for the habitation of man; a dwelling place, a mansion.
Houses are built to live in; not to look on.
Bees with smoke and doves with noisome stenchAre from their hives and houses driven away.
House
Household affairs; domestic concerns; particularly in the phrase to keep house. See below.
House
Those who dwell in the same house; a household.
One that feared God with all his house.
House
A family of ancestors, descendants, and kindred; a race of persons from the same stock; a tribe; especially, a noble family or an illustrious race; as, the house of Austria; the house of Hanover; the house of Israel.
The last remaining pillar of their house,The one transmitter of their ancient name.
House
One of the estates of a kingdom or other government assembled in parliament or legislature; a body of men united in a legislative capacity; as, the House of Lords; the House of Commons; the House of Representatives; also, a quorum of such a body. See Congress, and Parliament.
House
A firm, or commercial establishment.
House
A public house; an inn; a hotel.
House
A twelfth part of the heavens, as divided by six circles intersecting at the north and south points of the horizon, used by astrologers in noting the positions of the heavenly bodies, and casting horoscopes or nativities. The houses were regarded as fixed in respect to the horizon, and numbered from the one at the eastern horizon, called the ascendant, first house, or house of life, downward, or in the direction of the earth's revolution, the stars and planets passing through them in the reverse order every twenty-four hours.
House
A square on a chessboard, regarded as the proper place of a piece.
House
An audience; an assembly of hearers, as at a lecture, a theater, etc.; as, a thin or a full house.
House
The body, as the habitation of the soul.
This mortal house I'll ruin,Do Cæsar what he can.
House
The grave.
House
To take or put into a house; to shelter under a roof; to cover from the inclemencies of the weather; to protect by covering; as, to house one's family in a comfortable home; to house farming utensils; to house cattle.
At length have housed me in a humble shed.
House your choicest carnations, or rather set them under a penthouse.
House
To drive to a shelter.
House
To admit to residence; to harbor.
Palladius wished him to house all the Helots.
House
To deposit and cover, as in the grave.
House
To stow in a safe place; to take down and make safe; as, to house the upper spars.
House
To take shelter or lodging; to abide to dwell; to lodge.
You shall not house with me.
House
A dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families;
He has a house on Cape Cod
She felt she had to get out of the house
House
An official assembly having legislative powers;
The legislature has two houses
House
A building in which something is sheltered or located;
They had a large carriage house
House
A social unit living together;
He moved his family to Virginia
It was a good Christian household
I waited until the whole house was asleep
The teacher asked how many people made up his home
House
A building where theatrical performances or motion-picture shows can be presented;
The house was full
House
Members of a business organization that owns or operates one or more establishments;
He worked for a brokerage house
House
Aristocratic family line;
The House of York
House
The members of a religious community living together
House
The audience gathered together in a theatre or cinema;
The house applauded
He counted the house
House
Play in which children take the roles of father or mother or children and pretend to interact like adults;
The children were playing house
House
(astrology) one of 12 equal areas into which the zodiac is divided
House
The management of a gambling house or casino;
The house gets a percentage of every bet
House
Contain or cover;
This box houses the gears
House
Provide housing for;
The immigrants were housed in a new development outside the town
House
Offers more space and privacy.
They bought a house to have more space for their children.
House
Can be single or multi-storied.
They own a two-story house with a garage.
FAQs
Are apartments usually rented?
Yes, apartments are typically rented, with tenants paying rent to a landlord.
Who is responsible for maintenance in a rented apartment?
The landlord is generally responsible for most of the maintenance in a rented apartment.
Can you modify the structure of a house more easily than an apartment?
Yes, houses usually offer more flexibility and customization in terms of layout and design compared to apartments.
Do houses usually have yards or gardens?
Yes, houses often feature outdoor spaces like yards or gardens.
Do houses usually cost more than apartments?
Generally, houses are more expensive to purchase than apartments, but rental costs can vary widely.
Are apartments typically located in urban areas?
Yes, apartments are often situated in urban areas, providing proximity to workplaces and amenities.
Do houses offer more privacy than apartments?
Yes, houses generally offer more privacy compared to apartments due to being standalone structures.
Are apartments generally less spacious than houses?
Yes, apartments typically offer less space compared to houses.
Are houses typically owned rather than rented?
While houses can be rented, they are often owned, making the occupant responsible for maintenance and property taxes.
Can apartments have shared amenities like pools and gyms?
Yes, apartments often feature shared amenities like pools, gyms, and communal spaces.
Are apartments more suited for single people or smaller families?
Apartments can be suitable for single people or smaller families due to the limited space available.
Do houses provide more storage space compared to apartments?
Typically, houses do offer more storage space compared to apartments.
Is it easier to relocate when living in an apartment?
Yes, it is typically easier to relocate from a rented apartment than from an owned house.
Can you have pets more easily in a house than an apartment?
Yes, houses often allow more flexibility regarding pets compared to apartments, which may have restrictions.
Do houses offer a quieter living environment compared to apartments?
Generally, houses located in suburban or rural areas offer a quieter environment compared to apartments in urban areas.
About Author
Written by
Janet WhiteJanet White has been an esteemed writer and blogger for Difference Wiki. Holding a Master's degree in Science and Medical Journalism from the prestigious Boston University, she has consistently demonstrated her expertise and passion for her field. When she's not immersed in her work, Janet relishes her time exercising, delving into a good book, and cherishing moments with friends and family.
Edited by
Harlon MossHarlon is a seasoned quality moderator and accomplished content writer for Difference Wiki. An alumnus of the prestigious University of California, he earned his degree in Computer Science. Leveraging his academic background, Harlon brings a meticulous and informed perspective to his work, ensuring content accuracy and excellence.
