Fairfield's housing stock skews toward single-family homes on suburban lots, with a mix of older, established residences and mid- to late-century construction. The township's development has been shaped by its small size and its commercial base, so residential neighborhoods tend to sit on quieter streets set back from the Route 46 corridor, with some townhome and condo options available. The combination of a modest, roughly 7,900-person population, strong schools, and central northern New Jersey location makes Fairfield appealing to families and professionals who work in the surrounding corporate parks or commute toward New York. Lot sizes are generally suburban, with tree-lined streets and neighborhood parks distributed through the township.

Fairfield is organized around the U.S. Route 46 corridor, which carries most of the township's commercial and office development along its length. Residential streets fan out from that spine, with older sections clustered near the Passaic Avenue and Hollywood Avenue areas and newer, more suburban developments spread across the township's flatter, open stretches. The Fairfield Recreation Complex and public library form a civic anchor near the center of town. The Passaic River and its associated wetlands frame parts of the township's edge, lending a natural boundary between Fairfield and its neighbors in Essex, Morris, and Passaic counties. Because the township is small, its neighborhoods function as one cohesive community sharing schools and parks.

Fairfield offers a comfortable suburban lifestyle defined by its dual identity: a compact residential community surrounded by one of northern New Jersey's busier commercial corridors. U.S. Route 46 brings shopping, dining, and services close to home, while the township's neighborhoods remain quiet and family-oriented. Community life centers on the Fairfield Recreation Complex, where sports fields, walking trails, playgrounds, and the public library bring residents together, along with active youth sports programs. The township's small size fosters a familiar, close-knit feel, and its location gives residents convenient access to the retail and employment hubs of Essex, Morris, and Passaic counties and, farther afield, New York City.

Fairfield's public education is split between two districts. The Fairfield Public Schools serve students in kindergarten through sixth grade within the township. For seventh through twelfth grade, students attend the West Essex Regional School District, which operates West Essex Middle School and West Essex High School in North Caldwell and draws from Fairfield, Essex Fells, North Caldwell, and Roseland. The West Essex schools are well regarded and are a key reason families choose the western Essex County communities. Private and parochial options are available nearby, and the township's location offers easy access to colleges and universities across northern New Jersey.

U.S. Route 46 is Fairfield's transportation backbone, carrying commuter and commercial traffic east-west and linking to Route 3, Interstates 80 and 287, and the Garden State Parkway for regional travel. The corridor gives residents direct access to the employment centers of Wayne, Parsippany, and the wider northern New Jersey office market, while New York City lies within commuting range via connecting highways and transit. The township's compact layout keeps most errands and local trips short, though daily life is car-oriented, with the Route 46 spine serving as both a convenience and a defining feature of Fairfield's landscape.

The Fairfield Recreation Complex anchors outdoor life in the township, offering sports fields, walking trails, and a playground alongside the Fairfield Free Public Library. The township also maintains a variety of smaller neighborhood and multi-use parks, with playground equipment and open space distributed across its residential areas. Youth sports and recreation programs run through the township's recreation department. The Passaic River and its wetlands border parts of Fairfield, adding a natural element to the landscape, while the larger park systems of Morris and Passaic counties and nearby Essex County reservations are a short drive away for more extensive hiking and outdoor recreation.