Housing in Orange Park reflects its history as one of Clay County's older suburbs. The town offers a mix of established single-family neighborhoods, many with mature trees and larger lots, alongside apartment and townhome options along its commercial corridors. Waterfront and near-water properties on Doctors Lake and the St. Johns River are a defining feature of the higher-end market. The surrounding Clay County communities provide additional newer subdivisions, while Orange Park itself retains an older, well-settled character.

Orange Park's neighborhoods cluster around its riverfront and commercial corridors, with established residential streets, a town core, and the Doctors Lake waterfront. Areas such as the Kingsley and Doctors Lake Drive vicinities offer waterside living, while the town's older subdivisions give it a settled, traditional feel. The broader Clay County network of Fleming Island, Middleburg, and Green Cove Springs surrounds Orange Park, which remains one of the county's most established anchors.

Life in Orange Park blends suburban convenience with a strong connection to the water. Residents enjoy access to the St. Johns River and Doctors Lake for boating, fishing, and paddleboarding, while commercial corridors along U.S. 17 and Blanding Boulevard provide everyday services. The town's proximity to Jacksonville brings employment, dining, and cultural amenities within a short drive, and the nearby naval air station gives the area a notable military presence. It is a well-established, family-oriented corner of the Jacksonville region.

Public school students in Orange Park attend Clay County Schools, the countywide district serving the town and surrounding communities. The town is also home to St. Johns Country Day School, an independent private K–12 institution on Doctors Lake Drive with a long history in the community. Jacksonville's colleges and universities, along with St. Johns River State College campuses in the region, provide nearby higher-education options.

Orange Park sits just south of Jacksonville along the U.S. 17 corridor, with Blanding Boulevard and nearby Interstate 295 providing connections to the city's employment centers and the wider First Coast. The town is a short drive from downtown Jacksonville and its airport, while the St. Johns River bridges link Clay County to the city's east side. Commuting into Jacksonville is a defining part of life for many Orange Park residents.

The St. Johns River and Doctors Lake anchor recreation in Orange Park, with a 320-foot fishing pier and paddleboard rentals at Doctors Lake Park and waterfront access at the Rob Bradley Conservation Park. Jennings State Forest, west of town, offers hiking, biking, camping, and paddling, while the St. Johns River Base at Echockotee provides aquatic programs. Nearby Jacksonville expands the options with beaches, parks, and cultural attractions within a short drive.