Marina del Rey's housing is oriented to waterfront and near-water living. The stock ranges from mid-rise and high-rise condominium towers along Admiralty Way and the harbor channels to older garden apartments and a smaller number of single-family homes in the Oxford Triangle. Beach-adjacent communities such as Silver Strand and the Marina Peninsula contain some of the area's most sought-after residences, mixing older beach bungalows with newer custom homes. Development is denser than in neighboring Venice and Playa del Rey, and many units are oriented to marina, channel, or ocean views rather than large private lots.

Silver Strand is a narrow beach community on the sand south of Venice. The Marina Peninsula forms the western edge along the ocean. The Oxford Triangle, east of the harbor, is a pocket of single-family homes and duplexes on quiet streets. Along Admiralty Way and the main channels, condo communities such as Mariners Village and Villas del Rey cluster around the water. Venice lies to the north and Playa del Rey to the south, with the Ballona Wetlands and Playa Vista inland to the east.

Marina del Rey life revolves around the harbor. Residents boat, kayak, and paddleboard from the marinas, dine along the water, and walk or bike the coastal path that connects to Venice and Santa Monica. Fisherman's Village and Burton Chace Park host concerts, a farmers market, and seasonal events. The community has a relaxed, resort-like feel, with easy access to Venice's Abbot Kinney corridor, Playa Vista, and Culver City for shopping and nightlife. It suits people who want waterfront living on the Westside without the density of downtown Santa Monica.

Marina del Rey is served by the Los Angeles Unified School District. Marina del Rey Middle School and its performing arts magnet sit within the community, and the Westside Global Awareness Magnet (K–8) is located near the Venice shoreline and Ballona Creek wetlands. Students generally feed into nearby LAUSD high schools such as Venice High School, with a range of private and charter options across the Westside.

Marina del Rey sits immediately north of Los Angeles International Airport and is served by the Marina Freeway (State Route 90) and Interstate 405. Metro bus routes, including Line 33 along Venice Boulevard toward Santa Monica and downtown, and Culver City bus lines serve the area, though the community has no rail station of its own; the Expo Line is reachable in nearby Santa Monica and Culver City. The beach bike path offers a car-free route along the coast.

The harbor is the recreational heart, with boat rentals, yacht charters, and kayak and stand-up paddleboard launches. Mother's Beach (Marina Beach) offers calm, protected water popular with families, and Burton Chace Park provides waterfront lawns and views. Fisherman's Village mixes shops, dining, and harbor excursions. The Marvin Braude Bike Trail runs along the beach toward Venice and Santa Monica, while the Ballona Wetlands offer birding and walking just inland.