Sea Girt's housing stock reflects its status as an established Jersey Shore community. The borough is built out and primarily residential, with a mix of stately older homes, shingle-style and colonial residences, and some newer construction on a one-square-mile footprint. Many homes sit on tree-lined streets close to the beach, and the community's character is defined by its permanence rather than rapid turnover. As an oceanfront borough in one of Monmouth County's most sought-after coastal stretches, the housing is oriented toward single-family residences, with a limited number of seasonal rentals. Development is constrained by the borough's small size and fully built-out streets.

Sea Girt is a single, cohesive borough without distinct sub-neighborhoods; its one square mile is organized around Ocean Avenue along the beach, Beacon Boulevard near the lighthouse, and the tree-lined residential streets between. Spring Lake, immediately to the north, offers a similarly genteel shore setting with its boardwalk and Victorian architecture. Manasquan, to the south, provides a livelier downtown and the Manasquan Inlet. Wall Township borders the borough to the west, and the Manasquan River separates the area from the towns across the water. The surrounding shore communities collectively form the southern Monmouth County beach corridor.

Life in Sea Girt centers on the beach and the borough's calm, residential rhythm. The community is low-density and quiet, with tree-lined streets and a compact, walkable layout near the ocean. During summer the beach, surf, and boardwalk draw residents and visitors, while the off-season settles into a slower, year-round coastal pace. Spring Lake, just north, and Manasquan, just south, add dining, shopping, and nightlife options within a short walk or drive. The National Guard Training Center's presence gives the borough a long-standing institutional character, and the Sea Girt Lighthouse hosts public events and tours that anchor local civic life.

Sea Girt operates its own school district, the Sea Girt School District, which consists of a single school: Sea Girt Elementary School, a K-8 school and National Blue Ribbon recipient with a notably low student-teacher ratio. For grades nine through twelve, Sea Girt's public school students attend Manasquan High School in the neighboring Manasquan School District. The borough's small, locally controlled elementary district is a defining feature for families, and numerous private and parochial secondary options in Monmouth and Ocean counties are also available. Higher education is accessible at Monmouth University in nearby West Long Branch and other regional institutions.

Sea Girt is served by New Jersey Transit's North Jersey Coast Line, with the Sea Girt station providing rail access toward New York City and regional points, connecting through Long Branch. Route 71 runs north-south along the coast, and the Garden State Parkway lies a short distance inland, offering highway access to the rest of New Jersey. The borough is compact and walkable near the beach, though most residents use cars for daily errands. New York City is reachable by rail in roughly two hours, and Newark Liberty International Airport is the nearest major commercial airport, with Atlantic City and Philadelphia airports also within reach.

Recreation in Sea Girt revolves around its ocean beach, which offers swimming, surfing, and sunbathing along the Atlantic. The Sea Girt Lighthouse, open for public tours, is both a historic attraction and a focal point for community events. The adjacent Manasquan Inlet provides boating and fishing access, with the Manasquan River and its marinas just south of the borough. Spring Lake's boardwalk and the broader Monmouth County shore offer additional beaches, bike paths, and parks within a short drive. The National Guard Militia Museum and regional golf courses add further options, while nearby Point Pleasant and Asbury Park provide entertainment and dining.