Passaic's housing stock reflects its industrial-era growth. Much of the city is built out with attached and multifamily housing, including older brick and frame row houses, two- and three-family homes, and low- and mid-rise apartment buildings, alongside pockets of single-family houses. Because so much of the city was developed in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, architectural character tends toward compact lots and pre-war construction, and a substantial share of households rent rather than own. The city offers some of the more accessible housing in the inner-ring New Jersey suburbs. New construction is limited by the built-out footprint, so renovation and turnover of existing properties shape most of the market.

Passaic's neighborhoods grew up around its mills and later expanded northward and eastward. The city is organized along the Passaic River and its main north-south commercial corridors, with distinct residential districts reflecting successive waves of settlement. Blocks near the river retain some of the oldest housing, while areas farther from the center developed later as the city expanded. Commercial avenues function as neighborhood anchors, lined with shops, bakeries, and restaurants serving the city's diverse population. The compact grid makes most neighborhoods highly walkable, and residential streets sit close to daily services and transit stops.

Passaic's cultural life is tied closely to its immigrant heritage. Restaurants, bakeries, and markets along its commercial corridors reflect the city's eastern European, Latin American, and Middle Eastern communities, and the food scene draws residents from surrounding towns. The dense, walkable center supports an active street life, with small businesses forming the backbone of daily commerce. As part of Passaic County, residents have access to a broader network of parks, cultural institutions, and events in neighboring Paterson and Clifton, while New York City remains a short rail or bus trip away.

Public education in Passaic is provided by the Passaic City School District, which operates elementary, middle, and high schools across the city, supplemented by charter and private school options. Passaic County Community College serves the wider county from its main campus in nearby Paterson, offering two-year degree and continuing-education programs. Families also benefit from proximity to a dense network of higher-education institutions across northern New Jersey and the New York region.

Passaic is well connected to the surrounding region. NJ Transit commuter rail serves the city with a station on the Main and Bergen County lines, providing service toward Hoboken and connections into New York City, and local and express bus routes add transit coverage. The city sits within a short drive of major corridors including Route 21, Interstate 80, and the Garden State Parkway. Newark Liberty International Airport and the region's port facilities lie within roughly a half-hour drive, reinforcing Passaic's position within the New York metropolitan area.

The Passaic River is the city's defining natural feature, and riverside parks offer green space within the dense urban fabric. Just across the river in neighboring Paterson, the Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park preserves one of the nation's largest waterfalls and a landmark of early American industry, drawing visitors from across the region. County parks and athletic facilities in surrounding municipalities extend recreational options, and the city's walkable neighborhoods make local parks and playgrounds an everyday resource for residents.