Jefferson's housing stock reflects its lake-community heritage. Along Lake Hopatcong, buyers find a mix of year-round lakefront homes, renovated bungalows, and seasonal cottages, many with docks and water views. Inland, the Milton and Oak Ridge sections feature older village housing, mid-century ranches, and newer single-family subdivisions on larger wooded lots. Because much of the township is preserved open space, available parcels tend toward the established corridors, and the market skews toward single-family ownership rather than dense multifamily development.

Jefferson Township is organized around two main areas rather than formal subdivisions. The Lake Hopatcong section, along the lake's western shore, is the township's recreational core, with marinas, lake clubs, and waterfront homes. Oak Ridge and Milton, farther inland along Route 23 and Berkshire Valley Road, form the historic residential and commercial spine, with older housing stock, local shops, and the township's schools. Scattered rural roads in between offer wooded lots and larger acreage.

Life in Jefferson Township revolves around the lake and the outdoors. Lake Hopatcong supports boating, sailing, fishing, and winter ice activities, and its shoreline clubs and restaurants anchor summer social life. The township's recreation department organizes athletics and community programming, while Mahlon Dickerson Reservation provides trails, campgrounds, and scenic overlooks. It is a lifestyle built on open space, water access, and a slower, more rural pace than New Jersey's suburban core.

The Jefferson Township Public School District operates the township's public schools, serving students from pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade across its elementary, middle, and high school campuses. The district is governed by the Jefferson Township Board of Education and is closely tied to the community's two population centers. Nearby private and parochial options and Morris County vocational programs supplement the public system for families seeking alternatives.

Jefferson sits at the intersection of several regional corridors, with Route 15 and Route 23 running through the township and Interstate 80 accessible within a short drive. Commuters can reach employment centers in Morris, Essex, and Passaic counties, while NJ Transit rail service is available at nearby Dover, Denville, and Mount Arlington stations. The township's hilly terrain makes driving the primary mode, with bus service along the main highways.

Outdoor recreation is Jefferson's defining asset. Lake Hopatcong offers boating, sailing, fishing, and swimming across one of New Jersey's largest lakes, while Mahlon Dickerson Reservation, the largest park in the Morris County system, provides hiking, camping, and cross-country skiing on thousands of acres. The Berkshire Valley Wildlife Management Area and nearby Farny State Park extend the trail network, and the township's recreation department maintains courts, fields, and community programs.