Cedar Grove's housing stock reflects its growth as a mid-twentieth-century commuter suburb. Cape Cod, ranch, and split-level single-family homes dominate the established tree-lined streets, with many properties built between the 1940s and 1970s. Newer townhouse developments, often arranged around cul-de-sacs, provide a lower-maintenance alternative and appeal to a mix of first-time buyers and downsizers. Lots are generally suburban in scale, larger than in neighboring Montclair but smaller than in the more rural communities to the west. The township's zoning keeps much of the residential fabric single-family, while multifamily construction is concentrated near Pompton Avenue and the township's main roadways.

Cedar Grove is a compact township organized around Pompton Avenue, its main commercial corridor, and Ridge Road. Residential sections include the central township's tree-lined streets, hillside homes along the western edge near Mills Reservation and the Second Watchung Mountain, and newer townhouse communities built along cul-de-sac streets. The area around Cedar Grove Park and the reservoir adds a park-like setting to the town's eastern side. Because the township is small, most neighborhoods sit within a short drive of the town center, the schools, and the commercial districts of Montclair and Verona, while the hillside streets offer some of the township's most elevated outlooks toward New York.

Cedar Grove offers a quiet, family-oriented suburban lifestyle with easy access to the amenities of its larger neighbors. The township maintains active recreation programs, community events, and a volunteer fire department and ambulance corps that anchor local civic life. Residents do much of their dining and entertainment in nearby Montclair, Verona, and Little Falls, which offer a dense concentration of restaurants, theaters, and independent shops within a short drive. Cedar Grove itself provides convenient everyday retail along Pompton Avenue, and its parks and reservoir support walking, fishing, and outdoor recreation close to home.

Public education in Cedar Grove is provided by the Cedar Grove Township School District, a comprehensive community district serving students from pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade. The district operates four schools, including Cedar Grove High School, a middle school, and elementary schools, with an enrollment of roughly 1,570 students. Its small scale allows for comparatively low student-teacher ratios, and the district is closely tied to the township it serves. Many families also have access to private and parochial schools in the surrounding Essex County communities.

Cedar Grove is well positioned for regional commuting. NJ Transit buses run from the township to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Manhattan, a trip of roughly half an hour, and commuter rail stations on the Montclair-Boonton Line are located in neighboring Montclair. Interstate 80 and the Garden State Parkway are both minutes away, and Route 23 runs along the township's northern edge, providing highway access across northern New Jersey. Newark Liberty International Airport lies within about a 20-minute drive.

Cedar Grove's open space is anchored by Cedar Grove Park, a 77-acre facility in the Essex County Park System with sports fields, playgrounds, and walking paths, formally dedicated in 2016. Mills Reservation, a wooded county preserve along the township's western ridge, offers trails and overlooks, while the 92-acre Cedar Grove Reservoir provides a scenic setting for fishing and walking. Nearby Eagle Rock Reservation and the parks of Montclair and Verona expand recreational options, and the township's own recreation department runs seasonal programs and events for residents.