What is the major difference between the construction of a row-house and that of a brownstone?

Where you can expect to see Row houses in the U.S.

Many cities have historical, even rare, examples of row houses: New York City, Philadelphia, and San Francisco, as well as Baltimore, D.C., Chicago, New Orleans and Boston. Each city varies in its architectural styles. For instance, Baltimore row houses often feature Formstone, a type of stucco, while Boston is famous for its Victorian brick townhouses and Federal-style row houses.

Row houses don’t only show up in America’s oldest cities, they are popular all over the country, from Denver, Colorado to St. Paul, Minnesota. The F. Scott Fitzgerald House, a brownstone where the lauded American author and his parents lived, for example, is probably the most widely known row house in the Twin Cities.

Many neighborhoods in Washington, D.C. are comprised of row homes that are considered historic structures. Some rest in the original boundaries of the city, dating back to the beginning of the 19th century. They were designed by urban planner Major Pierre Charles L’Enfant for George Washington.

Welcome back to Period Dramas, a weekly column that alternates between roundups of historic homes on the market and answering questions we’ve always had about older structures.

Each week, we see a healthy number of houses come across our desks—many of the now-fashionable and well-known Brooklyn brownstone types among them. Recently, though, our counterparts at Curbed Chicago introduced us to the lesser-known greystone.

Intrigued, we set off to answer a few core questions: Are the two related? What makes a brownstone, and what a greystone? And aren't they all just townhouses, anyway? Here's what we found.

Brownstone—the building material—is a specific type of sandstone that is, as its name implies, characteristically dark. The trademark color is due to a high amount of iron in the stone. A brownstone—the structure—first popped up in New York City in the early 19th century and is typically a city rowhouse clad in the eponymous sandstone.

Built for the burgeoning middle class, these single-family houses employed the stone, usually quarried in nearby New Jersey, as a cheaper alternative to marble or limestone. In fact, many of the earlier rowhouses have only a brownstone facade—the rest of the structure is brick—while later houses are made entirely of the sandstone. Today, the majority of brownstones can be found either in Brooklyn or in Manhattan on the Upper West Side or in Harlem.

Note: Over the years, the term "brownstone" has become accepted to include almost any city rowhouse, but the widespread use of the term is technically incorrect. If the building is not made of brownstone, then the house is not a brownstone; it is, instead, a townhouse or a rowhouse.

New York City, though, wasn't the only city where a burgeoning number of upwardly mobile urbanites could afford their own homes, said Elizabeth Dillon, principal at architecture firm Historical Concepts and member of the Institute of Classical Architecture & Art. "Brownstone offered a material that had the appearance of wealth—and it seemed like a similar circumstance was also happening in Chicago."

The Chicago greystone began appearing in neighborhoods like North Lawndale, Woodlawn, and Lakeview in the 1890s. Like its New York cousin, Bedford limestone is both locally sourced—from central Indiana—and named for its color. "After the Great Chicago Fire in 1871, when there was more rebuilding and economic prosperity, Chicagoans wanted something that was a bit more ostentatious for their residences—so they turned to the greystone," said Dillon.

Built for a variety of classes, ranging from the working class to the wealthy, the greystone—unlike the single-family brownstone—was almost always designed as a two-, three-, or four-family home, and that's how many are preserved today. By contrast, a good deal of New York's brownstones have been converted into multiple-family apartment homes.

The facades of the brownstone and the greystone differ primarily in style. While brownstones typically feature Italianate details, like doorways surrounded by foliated molding, the greystone is often Romanesque or Neoclassical. It's not uncommon to see roughly carved blocks of greystone and intricately carved column capitals grace the 30,000 or so greystones around Chicago.

The aesthetic difference is purely dependent on when the buildings were constructed. "The brownstone heyday was a bit earlier than the greystone time period," said Dillon. "Italianate gothic was in vogue around the apex of the brownstone in the 1830s and 1840s, while the greystone was built at the end of the 19th century, right when Romanesque architecture was popular."

However, we would be remiss to neglect the fact that greystones were built through the 1930s, and they were also built along the Neoclassical, Beaux Arts, and Chateauesque styles. Similarly, brownstones, while largely Italianate, were not only built in that style: Some of the later examples, especially on Manhattan's Upper West Side, stretch into the Queen Anne, Beaux Arts, and even Romanesque varieties.

The most notable difference between the two is that the greystone is usually a semi-detached or fully detached townhouse, while the brownstone is almost always a rowhouse—one that immediately adjoins the neighboring building to create a solid street facade. Walk down any street in Brooklyn's Carroll Gardens, and you'll know exactly what we mean.

Despite their similarities, greystones and brownstones are distinct variations on a theme, more architectural cousins than siblings. That doesn't mean buyers won't require vigilance when looking for them: Just because a listing touts the name, the facade material still has to check out.

A brownstone is a building constructed with a brown sandstone material that was popular in the 19th Century. Brownstone townhouses are commonly associated with New York City, although you can find them in many different parts of the United States. While many brownstones are townhouses, and the words are often used interchangeably, there are key differences between these two building types.

The defining feature of a brownstone is that it must feature a particular type of brown sandstone facade from the Triassic-Jurassic era. Brownstones are usually townhouses or rowhouses made from brick and coated with this brown sandstone to give them the charming, sophisticated look that many people love. 

Townhouses and rowhouses are tall, narrow buildings that share walls with other buildings on either one or both sides. Even though the term brownstone is often used interchangeably with rowhouse and townhouse, a true brownstone must feature this unique sandstone coating to be considered authentic. 

Although the exact construction varies from building to building, they typically feature 3 to 5 floors, large stoops, and ornate detailing that was hand-crafted by skilled stone workers in the 1800s. They are also naturally quite spacious and feature large bay windows and high ceilings that are attractive to homebuyers.

Brownstone Townhouse History

Most brownstones were built in the 19th Century when this building material was the most common. Initially, brownstone was not seen as a desirable building material because it didn't have the opulent look of granite or marble. 

But architectural trends changed in the 1800s with the rise of Romanticism, which emphasized nature and authenticity over decadence. Brownstone had an earthier look that was much cheaper than other popular building materials, so it quickly became all the rage.

Brownstones catered to a growing middle class searching for elegant homes that were less expensive than those made with marble, granite, or limestone. The unique detailing and attractive features were a way for the merchant class to express their tastes and personality – which is why today they are a symbol of urban sophistication. 

Where Does Brownstone Come From?

Four main quarries in the United States mined brownstone during the period it was popular.

Apostle Island

The Bass Island Brownstone Company owned a quarry on Basswood Island, Wisconsin, from 1868 to the 1890s. This quarry and similar facilities in the Apostle Islands supplied much of the brownstone in the Midwest.

Hummelstown Brownstone

The Hummelstown Quarry in Hummelstown, Pennsylvania, was the largest supplier of the brownstone on the east coast, and many historic government buildings throughout West Virginia, Pennsylvania, New York, Maryland, and Delaware were built with stone mined in Hummelstown.

Portland Brownstone

Brownstone quarries in Portland, Connecticut, were also a major supplier of the material, and many important buildings in Chicago, New York, Philadelphia, Washington, and Baltimore contain Connecticut River Brownstone.

New Jersey Brownstone

Most of the brownstones in New York and New Jersey came from the Passaic Formation in northern New Jersey.

What Makes a Brownstone House So Special?

Despite the material's popularity, the style eventually fell out of fashion in the early 20th Century, as residents and developers began to voice complaints that the stone was liable to crack and crumble in intense weather. Then, in the 1940s, the Portland Quarry was flooded by the Connecticut River and officially shut down for good in 2012, ending a large part of the brownstone excavation in the Northeast. While brownstone is still mined in other parts of the world – home builders have long ago abandoned this type of construction in favor of more modern designs.

As a result, only a limited number of brownstones are left, creating a scarcity that helps drive demand. In addition, brownstones offer a style and aesthetic that many homebuyers love. 

They often feature stylistic elements that are difficult to find in other homes – including carved fireplaces, stone detailing, garden levels, and other charming features characteristic of the Romantic era. Plus, they are often more spacious than other city apartments and have come to symbolize wealth and sophistication in many urban neighborhoods. 

As a result, massive demand for brownstones exists among those who prefer a timeless design over all the modern bells and whistles. But the high demand also makes true brownstones expensive and challenging to find without a sizeable budget.

What's the Difference Between a Brownstone and a Townhouse?

The terms brownstone and townhouse are often used interchangeably; however, they are different concepts. A brownstone refers to a townhouse or rowhouse-style building with a distinct sandstone coating that gives it a brownish appearance. On the other hand, a townhouse refers to any multi-floor building that shares at least one wall with an adjacent building. A rowhouse is a similar type of construction that also features multiple separate units that share walls. But rowhouses are typically lined up in a neat row and feature a uniform design, whereas townhouses may be laid out and grouped differently.

All residential brownstones are either townhouses or rowhouses. However, not all townhouses are brownstones as they can be built with many different materials. Plus, the type of design commonly referred to as a brownstone is typically only found in the United States, whereas townhouses are a common type of building found worldwide. 

Brownstone Townhouse FAQ

Why are Brownstones So Expensive?

Brownstones are expensive due to their rarity and allure. They have a charming look that many homebuyers love and offer space and comfort that is often scarce in major cities. Plus, there is a limited supply and consistent demand, which will inevitably drive up prices. So, brownstones are both functional and visually pleasing, making them a desirable asset for those with the means.

Are Brownstones Only in New York?

No, brownstones can be found all over the United States. They are commonly associated with New York City because they can be found all over Brooklyn and Manhattan. However, you will see brownstones in many major cities, including Boston, Philadelphia, Washington DC, and Baltimore. It was also a popular material for government buildings and municipal facilities all across the US feature brownstone coating.

How Much Does a NYC Brownstone Cost? 

Today, brownstones are usually listed in the ballpark of $3 million to $10 million, although it depends on the location and condition of the building. It's common for private landlords and developers to purchase old brownstones and revitalize them to meet modern living standards -meaning even renters can also get a chance to live in one of these coveted buildings.