Edison's housing stock is characteristic of a mature Central Jersey suburb that developed in several waves. The township contains a broad mix of single-family homes, from modest post-war ranches and Cape Cods to larger split-levels and colonials built during the second half of the twentieth century. Condominium and townhouse communities appear near the township's commercial corridors and rail stations, offering lower-maintenance options for commuters. Many neighborhoods feature sizable lots by suburban standards, with mature trees and established streets. Because Edison is largely built out, new construction is limited, and most buying activity involves the resale of existing homes across a wide range of sizes and price points, reflecting the township's large and economically varied population.

Edison is a collection of distinct neighborhoods rather than a single town center. Menlo Park, in the eastern part of the township, is historically significant as the site of Thomas Edison's laboratory and is now a residential and commercial area near Menlo Park Mall. The North Edison section, with its schools and tree-lined streets, is among the township's most established residential areas. The Oak Tree Road corridor crosses through the Iselin-adjacent section, surrounded by a dense, largely South Asian residential community. Clara Barton, Piscatawaytown, and New Durham are among other recognized sections. Around the Edison and Metropark rail stations, neighborhoods blend into commuter-oriented pockets, giving the township a varied patchwork of older and newer residential streets.

Edison's lifestyle is shaped by its extraordinary cultural diversity, with one of the largest South Asian populations in the United States. The Oak Tree Road corridor — known as Little India or India Square — anchors the local food scene with Indian restaurants, grocery stores, sweets shops, and clothing boutiques stretching through Edison and into Iselin. Beyond it, the township offers a broad range of cuisines, from longstanding diners to Chinese, Korean, and Latin American eateries. Shopping centers such as Menlo Park Mall serve as regional retail hubs, while community and cultural organizations reflect the many backgrounds of Edison's residents. For recreation, Roosevelt Park, the oldest park in the Middlesex County system, offers a lake, open-air theater, and walking paths in the middle of a densely developed area.

Edison is served by Edison Township Public Schools, a large, comprehensive district that educates roughly 17,000 students across about 20 schools from pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade. The district operates multiple elementary and middle schools feeding into two high schools, Edison High School and J.P. Stevens High School. Reflecting the township's diversity, the district serves students from a wide range of cultural and linguistic backgrounds and maintains extensive programs in academics, arts, and athletics. Edison's size and range of programs are a significant draw for families. Private and parochial schools also operate in and around the township, and Middlesex County's network of magnet and vocational schools provides additional public options for eligible students.

Edison's transportation network is one of its greatest assets. NJ Transit's Northeast Corridor line runs through the township with stations at Edison and Metropark, the latter an express hub with frequent trains to Newark, New York Penn Station, and points south; Metuchen station lies just outside the township boundary. Rail commutes to Manhattan typically take under an hour. By road, Edison is crossed by US 1 and Interstate 287 and sits near the New Jersey Turnpike and Garden State Parkway, providing access across Central Jersey and toward New York and Philadelphia. Newark Liberty International Airport is a short drive away, and New York City's airports are also within reach. Local and express bus service supplements the rail network.

Edison offers substantial parkland for a dense suburb, with more than a thousand acres of local park space. Roosevelt Park, established in 1933 and considered the oldest park in the Middlesex County system, spans 217 acres in central Edison with a lake, walking paths, playgrounds, sports fields, and an open-air theater that hosts summer performances. The Thomas Edison Center at Menlo Park combines history with open space at the inventor's former laboratory site, with the Edison Memorial Tower rising nearby. The township's numerous neighborhood parks provide playgrounds, athletic fields, and courts. Nearby county and state facilities, along with the Raritan River waterfront, extend outdoor options, and the Menlo Park Mall area adds movie theaters and indoor entertainment for families.