Housing in Wantage is predominantly single-family and spread out, reflecting the township's rural, agricultural character. Homes sit on larger lots, with farms, horse properties, and wooded acreage common throughout the township. The stock includes older farmhouses, mid-century homes, and newer single-family construction, and ownership is the norm. The township's low density and open space distinguish it from the denser suburbs closer to the region's cities. Buyers are typically drawn by the land, the mountain setting, and the privacy that a large rural township affords.

Wantage has no downtown in the conventional sense; it is a dispersed rural township of farms, hamlets, and residential roads. The township spreads across rolling farmland and forested ridges in the Kittatinny Valley, with High Point State Park and the Appalachian Trail along its western edge. Commercial activity is modest and scattered, and residents look to nearby Sussex Borough, Newton, and other county towns for services. The community's identity is tied to its landscape — the ridge, the farms, and the open space — rather than to a central commercial core.

Life in Wantage is quiet, rural, and outdoors-oriented. The proximity of High Point State Park, the Appalachian Trail, and the surrounding Kittatinny Ridge makes hiking, camping, and scenic drives part of everyday life, while the township's farms and open land support a self-reliant, small-town rhythm. Community life centers on the schools, churches, and local volunteer organizations. Residents value the privacy and space of the rural setting, with larger towns and regional employment within a reasonable drive. It suits those who want country living in the northern New Jersey highlands.

Students in Wantage attend Wantage Elementary School for the early grades, and the township is part of the High Point Regional High School District, whose high school is located within Wantage and serves Wantage along with Frankford, Branchville, Lafayette, and Sussex Borough. This regional structure keeps high-school enrollment shared across the surrounding communities while elementary education remains local. Families seeking additional options can look to nearby private and parochial schools and the vocational-technical programs of Sussex County.

Wantage is reached by a network of state and county roads that cross Sussex County, connecting the township to Sussex Borough, Newton, and the regional centers of northwestern New Jersey. The township's rural character means driving is essential, and commuters reach employment in Morris County and nearby parts of New York and Pennsylvania by car. The absence of rail service within the township reinforces its country feel, while the broader region's highways remain accessible for longer trips.

Recreation in Wantage is dominated by High Point State Park, which borders the township and offers hiking, camping, swimming, and the panoramic views from New Jersey's highest point. The Appalachian Trail crosses the Kittatinny Ridge nearby, and the park's lakes and forests provide year-round outdoor activity. The township's farms and country roads offer additional space for riding and cycling. For larger outings, the Delaware Water Gap, the region's ski areas, and the cultural attractions of northwestern New Jersey are all within reach.