Harrison's housing market reflects a town in transition. Older sections hold historic brick rowhouses and multi-family homes that recall the town's industrial past, while the Passaic River waterfront and the area around the PATH station have seen a wave of new mid- and high-rise residential development. This mix means buyers and renters can choose between established, more modest homes and newer apartment and condo towers with river and skyline views. The ongoing redevelopment has expanded the housing supply considerably, and the town's position between Newark and Manhattan makes it attractive to commuters looking for urban living at a more accessible price point than nearby Jersey City or Hoboken.

Harrison is organized between its older, historic town center and the newer riverfront redevelopment districts. The established neighborhoods retain brick rowhouses, churches, and a traditional street grid that reflect the town's industrial-era character. Along the Passaic River, the redevelopment zone surrounding Sports Illustrated Stadium has grown into a distinct district of new residential towers, retail, and open space, connected to the PATH station by foot. The area near the waterfront continues to add housing and amenities, creating a visible contrast between Harrison's long-established blocks and its rapidly modernizing riverfront edge.

Harrison offers an urban, walkable way of life unusual among New Jersey suburbs. The town's density, mixed housing stock, and transit connections give it a city feel, while its compact scale keeps everyday errands close. The redeveloped riverfront brings residents alongside restaurants, cafes, and the soccer stadium, and the town's diversity reflects its long immigrant and working-class heritage. Commuters value the PATH link to Newark and Manhattan, while families appreciate the local school system and neighborhood parks. For those seeking a transit-rich, lower-cost alternative to the region's pricier commuter towns, Harrison provides immediate access to the cultural and employment core of the metro area.

Harrison is served by the Harrison Public School District, which educates public school students from pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade across the town's compact boundaries. The district operates several schools serving the community's diverse student body, with Harrison High School anchoring the upper grades. As a small urban district within the New York metropolitan area, Harrison offers a tight-knit school community while remaining close to the specialized magnet, charter, and private options available in Newark, Jersey City, and the broader region. The district's central location and neighborhood-based schools make it a key consideration for families choosing to live in the town.

Harrison's strongest asset is its transit access. Harrison Station on the PATH system's Newark–World Trade Center line, operated by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, provides direct rail service to downtown Newark, Jersey City, and Manhattan, making the town a practical base for New York commuters. The town is also adjacent to Newark, with Newark Penn Station and major highways such as Interstate 280 and the New Jersey Turnpike nearby. At about eight miles from Midtown Manhattan, Harrison offers one of the region's shortest and most convenient commutes, and its walkable, compact form reduces reliance on cars for many daily trips.

Harrison's recreational identity centers on Sports Illustrated Stadium, the 25,000-seat riverfront venue that hosts Major League Soccer's New York Red Bulls and the NWSL's NJ/NY Gotham FC, bringing regular professional soccer to the town. The surrounding waterfront redevelopment has added open space and gathering areas along the Passaic River, and the town's parks and athletic fields serve local youth and school sports. Harrison's compact, walkable layout and its PATH access also place residents minutes from the parks, museums, and cultural venues of Newark and Manhattan, effectively extending the town's recreational options well beyond its own small footprint.