Port Richey's housing stock reflects its origins as an early riverfront settlement and its modest footprint. Homes range from mid-century ranch houses and small cottages to canal-front and riverfront properties with private docks and boat lifts. Because the Cotee River and its tidal canals weave through the city, many residences sit on navigable water, a defining feature of the local market. Lot sizes vary, with waterfront parcels generally larger than interior lots. The city is almost entirely built out, so new construction is limited, and buyers typically choose among established single-family homes, some duplexes and mobile homes, and a smaller share of condominiums near the river. The emphasis across much of Port Richey is on water access and an easygoing Gulf Coast lifestyle rather than large master-planned communities.

Port Richey is small enough that it reads more as a set of waterfront enclaves than as distinct large subdivisions. The area along the Cotee River and its canals forms the city's core, where homes back onto tidal waterways. Around it, established residential streets spread toward the US 19 corridor, which functions as the city's commercial spine. Neighborhoods such as the areas near Waterfront Park and Brasher Park sit close to the river and the growing Waterfront District. The city's eastern and southern edges blend into the surrounding unincorporated communities and New Port Richey. Because the Cotee River, rather than a single town center, organizes the city, most neighborhoods are defined by their distance to the water and the riverfront parks.

Life in Port Richey centers on the water. The Cotee River provides a natural setting for boating, kayaking, paddleboarding, and fishing, with many residents keeping boats at backyard docks. The Waterfront District along the river has become a focal point for dining and nightlife, with restaurants and bars oriented toward the water. The city maintains several public parks, including Waterfront Park and Brasher Park, that host community gatherings and offer river views. The pace is unhurried and local, in keeping with the Old Florida character of this stretch of the Gulf Coast. For broader amenities, residents turn to nearby New Port Richey's downtown and the larger retail corridors along US 19, while Tampa, Clearwater, and St. Petersburg are within about an hour's drive for major entertainment, cultural, and employment destinations.

Public schools in Port Richey are part of Pasco County Schools, the countywide district serving this portion of Florida's central-west coast. Students in the area generally attend nearby Pasco County elementary, middle, and high schools, with assignments determined by residential address. The district operates a range of programs across the county, including magnet and career-oriented academies, and is one of the larger school systems in the Tampa Bay region. Families in Port Richey also have access to private and charter options in the surrounding Pasco County communities, including New Port Richey and the county seat. Because Port Richey is small, many school campuses are shared with adjacent communities, and families typically evaluate specific school assignments by street address.

Port Richey sits along US 19, the main north-south highway serving western Pasco County, which connects the city to New Port Richey, Clearwater, and St. Petersburg. The Suncoast Parkway, a limited-access toll road a short distance east, offers a faster route toward Tampa and the Tampa Bay area's interstate network. Downtown Tampa is roughly 30 miles to the south, typically a 45-minute to one-hour drive depending on traffic. Tampa International Airport and St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport are both reachable within about an hour. Public transit in the area is provided by Pasco County's GoPasco bus system, which links Port Richey and New Port Richey to regional routes, though most residents rely on personal vehicles for daily travel.

Outdoor recreation is woven into Port Richey's identity. Werner-Boyce Salt Springs State Park, located within the city, protects springs, salt marshes, and mangrove-lined coast where visitors paddle, hike, and watch for birds and other wildlife. The Cotee River itself is a local waterway for boating, kayaking, and fishing, and the city's Waterfront Park and Brasher Park provide riverfront green space and boat access. Nearby regional attractions include the Suncoast Trail for cycling and walking, Jay B. Starkey Wilderness Park, and the beaches and preserves of Florida's Sports Coast. The city's parks host community events throughout the year, and the riverfront district's restaurants and bars extend the waterfront experience from daytime recreation into the evening.