Riviera Beach's housing stock spans mainland and island settings. Singer Island features a concentration of oceanfront and Intracoastal condominium buildings and waterfront residences, while the mainland offers established single-family neighborhoods, some with direct water access along canals and the Intracoastal. The city's marina district has drawn newer residential and mixed-use development around the waterfront. Overall, the market mixes traditional older homes with high-rise and marina-area living, all within a compact coastal city just north of West Palm Beach.

Riviera Beach is organized between its mainland and Singer Island. The island holds the city's beachfront condominium communities and resort-oriented areas, with Palm Beach Shores at its southern tip. On the mainland, established residential neighborhoods fan out from the Blue Heron Boulevard corridor, which links the city to the beaches, and the Marina Village district anchors the Intracoastal waterfront. Phil Foster Park and the Blue Heron Bridge area form a recreation-focused pocket, while older residential streets carry the city's long-settled character.

Riviera Beach's lifestyle is built around the water. Boating, fishing, snorkeling, and diving are part of everyday life, anchored by the Riviera Beach Marina Village's shops and waterfront restaurants and by the celebrated Blue Heron Bridge underwater trail. The city has a working-port energy alongside its beachfront communities, and its diverse, full-service character includes schools, churches, and nearby regional healthcare such as the West Palm Beach VA Medical Center. With West Palm Beach immediately to the south, residents get waterfront living plus the conveniences of a major coastal county.

Riviera Beach is served by the School District of Palm Beach County, which encompasses all of Palm Beach County and ranks among the ten largest public school districts in the United States. The district provides the public-school framework for the city's families, while nearby charter, private, and faith-based options add to the local education landscape. Higher education and regional services are accessible in West Palm Beach and across the county.

Riviera Beach sits directly north of West Palm Beach, with the Blue Heron Boulevard corridor linking the mainland to Singer Island and the ocean beaches. The city is near Interstate 95 and U.S. Route 1, giving residents quick access to Palm Beach County's road network, and Palm Beach International Airport lies a short drive to the south. The Port of Palm Beach anchors the city's maritime transportation role, adding a deep-water commercial gateway within the municipality.

Riviera Beach is a recreation hub for water sports. The Blue Heron Bridge at Phil Foster Park is one of the most famous snorkeling and diving sites in The Palm Beaches, with clear water, marine life, and an underwater trail of statues and sunken objects. Peanut Island, reachable by boat, offers beaches and snorkeling just offshore, and Singer Island provides oceanfront swimming and sunbathing. The Intracoastal Waterway supports boating and fishing, while the Riviera Beach Marina Village serves as the waterfront gathering point for residents and visitors alike.