Perth Amboy's housing stock is distinctly urban and dense. A large share of the city's homes are in multifamily buildings, with apartments in larger complexes and smaller two- and three-family structures accounting for the majority of housing, while only a modest portion of the stock is single-family detached. The city's older neighborhoods contain rowhouses, brick multi-family buildings, and early-to-mid-twentieth-century homes along streets like Amboy Avenue, giving much of the city a pre-war urban character. Newer construction and redevelopment have added infill housing, particularly near the waterfront. The market is heavily rental-oriented, and housing here skews toward smaller units at price points below much of the surrounding county. Buyers and renters are typically drawn by the city's affordability, density, transit access, and proximity to Raritan Bay rather than by suburban lot sizes or new subdivision development.

Perth Amboy is organized around its downtown and waterfront, with a dense grid of residential streets extending inland. The historic downtown near the bay holds city hall, older commercial buildings, and the redeveloped waterfront promenade, where restaurants and the marina anchor public life. The Ferry Slip and Proprietary House sit within walking distance of the bay, framing the city's historic core. Farther inland, neighborhoods along Amboy Avenue and the surrounding cross streets feature rowhouses and early-to-mid-1900s homes, while the western and southern sections of the city include more apartment complexes and multifamily housing. State Routes 35 and 440 divide the city's edges, and nearby Rudyk Park and Francis Street Park provide neighborhood green space. The city is compact and walkable, with a fabric that blends historic blocks and working-class residential streets throughout.

Perth Amboy's lifestyle centers on its waterfront and its strong cultural identity. The Raritan Bay promenade draws residents for walking, fishing, and waterfront dining, and the city's restaurants reflect a diverse heritage that includes a deep Latin American influence. The Raritan Yacht Club, one of the oldest yacht clubs in the United States, keeps a sailing tradition alive on the bay, and the marina and summer concerts along the water give the city a distinct coastal-urban rhythm. The Proprietary House and Ferry Slip museum connect daily life to the city's colonial past. With dense, walkable streets and a strong sense of community, Perth Amboy offers an urban lifestyle that is still oriented around the bay, and its transit connections make it practical for residents working across Middlesex County or in New York City.

Public education in Perth Amboy is provided by the Perth Amboy Public Schools, a community district serving pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade across 12 schools and roughly 10,000 students. The district is one of New Jersey's former Abbott districts, a designation tied to the state's school-funding framework for its historically underserved urban districts, and it operates a network of elementary, middle, and high schools including Perth Amboy High School with its career academies. The district is the city's primary public option and a major civic institution, offering a range of bilingual and specialized programs to serve its diverse student population. Families also have access to charter and private schools in the surrounding Middlesex County area, and the nearby county vocational and technical district provides additional career-focused pathways.

Perth Amboy is one of Middlesex County's more transit-connected cities. NJ Transit's Perth Amboy Station on the North Jersey Coast Line provides direct commuter rail service toward Newark and New York, with Manhattan reachable in roughly 50 minutes by train. By road, State Routes 35 and 440 run through and around the city, linking to the Garden State Parkway and Interstate 95 for regional travel across New Jersey and Staten Island. The former Perth Amboy Ferry Slip recalls the city's earlier role in New York Harbor transit, and today ferry service operates from nearby South Amboy. Local and express bus routes supplement rail service. The city's compact, walkable street grid and its position at the mouth of the Raritan make it a practical base for commuters heading to New York, Newark, or the surrounding county.

Recreation in Perth Amboy is anchored by the Raritan Bay waterfront. The city's promenade offers walking, cycling, and fishing along the bay, with views across the water and a path that connects the marina, restaurants, and public spaces. Raritan Bay Waterfront Park provides green space and playgrounds, and the city's neighborhood parks, including Rudyk Park and Francis Street Park, serve local recreation. History is woven into recreation as well: the Proprietary House, the restored home of New Jersey's colonial royal governor, offers tours, and the Perth Amboy Ferry Slip museum interprets the city's harbor heritage. The Raritan Yacht Club and the marina support sailing and boating, while summer concerts at the waterfront gazebo bring the community together. The city's bayfront setting gives residents urban density with direct access to the water.