Brookhaven's housing stock spans a wide range of eras and styles, reflecting its century-long evolution. The historic core includes large estate homes and mansions from the early country-club era, many on generous lots along tree-lined streets. Around them sit 1950s mid-century ranches, cottages, and newer townhomes and condominiums clustered near the MARTA station and the mixed-use centers at Town Brookhaven and Brookhaven Village. Recent infill construction has added upscale single-family and attached housing. This variety means buyers can find everything from a classic intown estate to a low-maintenance condo, all within a few miles of Buckhead and the rail line.

Brookhaven is composed of several distinct neighborhoods. Historic Brookhaven, built around the Capital City Club golf course, anchors the city with some of its largest, most established homes. Brookhaven Village, centered on Dresden Drive near the MARTA station, functions as a walkable town center with shops and residences. Lynwood Park has deep community roots and features a large park with courts, a pool, and a recreation center. Around these, neighborhoods such as Ashford Park and Sexton Woods add a mix of mid-century and newer homes. Peachtree Road runs as the city's commercial spine, tying the sections together and linking them to Buckhead.

Brookhaven offers an upscale, walkable intown lifestyle with suburban comforts. Town Brookhaven and Brookhaven Village provide mixed-use centers with restaurants, shops, and gathering space along Peachtree Road and Dresden Drive, while Buckhead's dining and retail sit just to the south. The city's parks, greenway trails, and events — led by the annual Cherry Blossom Festival — anchor community life, and Oglethorpe University adds a cultural and academic presence. Residents enjoy the convenience of MARTA rail for reaching Atlanta's job centers without giving up a leafy, neighborhood-oriented setting. The result is a family-friendly yet fashionable community that functions as one of the closer-in alternatives to Buckhead itself.

Public education in Brookhaven is provided by the DeKalb County School District, which serves the city through a network of neighborhood elementary, middle, and high schools. Several of the area's schools are well regarded, and the city's population of families and professionals places a high value on education. Oglethorpe University, a private liberal arts college on a historic 100-acre campus, is located within Brookhaven and offers a small-college academic environment plus a museum of art. The city is also close to Emory University and other Atlanta-area institutions, and a number of private and parochial schools serve families in and around Brookhaven, adding to the educational landscape.

Brookhaven is one of the best-connected cities in the Atlanta suburbs. The Brookhaven/Oglethorpe MARTA station sits on the Gold Line, providing direct rail service to Buckhead, Midtown, downtown Atlanta, and Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. Peachtree Road runs through the city, connecting by car to Buckhead to the south and Chamblee to the north, with Interstate 85 and Georgia 400 both nearby. This combination of rail and highway access gives residents a choice of commuting modes rare among Atlanta-area suburbs. The station area and village centers are also walkable, and bus routes extend the transit network into surrounding neighborhoods.

Brookhaven's park system is a defining asset. Murphey Candler Park, one of the area's largest, offers a lake, ball fields, trails, and playgrounds, while Blackburn Park hosts sports leagues and community events. Lynwood Park, Briarwood Park, Ashford Park, and Brookhaven Park add pools, courts, and green space across the city, and the Peachtree Creek Greenway is expanding as a multi-use trail corridor. The city's annual Cherry Blossom Festival celebrates spring with arts and community gatherings. Oglethorpe University's campus and museum add cultural depth, including the Crypt of Civilization, a famous sealed time capsule. With Buckhead and Atlanta's larger attractions minutes away, recreation options extend far beyond the city's own parks.