Westwood's housing stock reflects its late-nineteenth-century origins and subsequent suburban growth: a core of older single-family homes, many in early-twentieth-century styles, lines the streets around the downtown, with mid-century houses and some multifamily buildings filling out the borough. The compact street grid and proximity to the train station give parts of town a walkable, village character unusual in Bergen County. Demand is driven by the combination of a real downtown, commuter rail access, and strong schools. The market skews toward established, well-maintained homes, with condominiums and apartments concentrated near the center for those seeking lower-maintenance living close to transit.

Westwood is organized around its downtown commercial district, with established residential streets radiating outward on a compact grid. The areas nearest the center offer the greatest walkability, while outer blocks transition into quieter single-family neighborhoods with mature trees. The train station anchors the borough's western edge, drawing a mix of commuter households. Because the borough is small, neighborhoods blend into one another more than they function as distinct enclaves, and much of daily life clusters around the downtown and the borough's schools and parks.

Westwood's downtown is the center of daily life, and unlike many suburbs it functions as a true commercial district with independent restaurants, cafes, shops, and services. The borough hosts community events and parades that draw residents from across the Pascack Valley. Its identity as the Hub of the Pascack Valley speaks to this role as a gathering place for the surrounding towns. Weekday life blends local errands on foot with rail commutes toward New York, while evenings and weekends fill the downtown. The result is a lifestyle that combines Bergen County's suburban comfort with the sociability of a walkable small-town center.

Westwood is served by the Westwood Regional School District for elementary and middle grades and the Pascack Valley Regional High School District for secondary education. The regional district, which draws students from several Pascack Valley towns, is a well-established part of the area's educational landscape. Families also have access to a range of private and parochial schools in the surrounding region, a common feature of Bergen County. The presence of both a local K-8 system and a regional high school gives families continuity while keeping the high school experience shared across the valley's communities.

Westwood sits on NJ Transit's Pascack Valley Line, providing rail service that connects the borough to the broader transit network and, by transfer, to New York City. Service on the line is oriented toward weekday commuting, and many residents pair the train with driving for off-peak travel. Highways such as Route 17 and Route 4 are readily accessible, offering car routes into Bergen County, the George Washington Bridge corridor, and points north and south. The combination of a downtown station and straightforward highway access makes Westwood a practical base for both rail commuters and those who drive to work.

Westwood's recreation is built around its downtown and the public spaces of a compact borough. Community events, seasonal celebrations, and parades enliven the commercial center, while neighborhood parks and fields serve local sports and family life. The borough's location in the Pascack Valley places county parks, hiking areas, and the larger recreation network of northern New Jersey and the Hudson River region within a short drive. Residents also benefit from proximity to the cultural and recreational offerings of New York City, reachable by the Pascack Valley Line. This gives Westwood both a locally walkable core and access to broader regional amenities.