Town vs. Borough — What's the Difference?

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 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.

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

A self-governing incorporated town in some US states, such as New Jersey.

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

One of the five administrative units of New York City.

(Informal) A city

A civil division of the state of Alaska that is the equivalent of a county in most other US states.

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

A town having a municipal corporation and certain rights, such as self-government.

The residents of a town

A town that sends a representative to Parliament.

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

A medieval group of fortified houses that formed a town having special privileges and rights.

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

(obsolete) A fortified town.

A group of prairie dog burrows.

(rare) A town or city.

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)

A town having a municipal corporation and certain traditional rights.

Any more urbanized centre than the place of reference.

An administrative district in some cities, e.g., London.

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

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.

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

Other similar administrative units in cities and states in various parts of the world.

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

A district in Alaska having powers similar to a county.

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

An association of men who gave pledges or sureties to the king for the good behaviour of each other.

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

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.

(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.

The collective body of citizens or inhabitants of a borough; as, the borough voted to lay a tax.

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

An association of men who gave pledges or sureties to the king for the good behavior of each other.

London, especially central London.

One of the administrative divisions of a large city

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.

An English town that forms the constituency of a member of Parliament

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;