Housing in Fircrest reflects its planned, mid-century suburban origins. The city consists primarily of modest single-family homes on tidy lots, with tree-lined streets and a consistent residential scale. The housing stock is established and largely built out, given the city's small 1.6-square-mile footprint, with limited new construction. Homes near the golf club and the community's parks are particularly desirable. The overall character is one of a settled, well-kept suburban neighborhood.

Fircrest is a compact city whose residential streets radiate from its central amenities, including the golf club, parks, and community center. The community was laid out with curved, aesthetically planned streets, giving it a cohesive look distinct from the surrounding Tacoma grid. It borders the city of Tacoma on multiple sides, with University Place to the west, and functions as a single, close-knit neighborhood rather than a collection of distinct districts.

Life in Fircrest is suburban, family-oriented, and self-contained. The city's parks, community recreation center, and the Fircrest Golf Club anchor local life, while its tree-lined, curving streets create a quiet, planned atmosphere. Residents enjoy a strong sense of neighborhood within a compact footprint, and downtown Tacoma's employment, dining, and cultural amenities lie just minutes away. Puget Sound and the broader South Sound region are close by, making Fircrest a convenient and comfortable base for the area.

The majority of Fircrest is located within the Tacoma School District, with some portions served by other nearby districts. Students therefore attend Tacoma public schools for their K–12 education, with elementary, middle, and high schools serving the surrounding area. Higher education is available close by, including the University of Puget Sound and Tacoma Community College, along with institutions across the broader Puget Sound region.

Fircrest sits immediately west of downtown Tacoma, with convenient access to Interstate 5 and State Route 16 for travel around the South Sound. The city is a short drive from Tacoma's downtown core, the Port of Tacoma, and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport to the north. Its central Pierce County location makes commuting to Tacoma, Lakewood, and the wider region practical while the city's own streets remain calm.

The Fircrest Golf Club, a private 18-hole course designed by Arthur Vernon Macan, anchors recreation in the city. Fircrest's parks and community recreation center provide sports, classes, and gathering spaces, and the city's tree-lined streets are ideal for walking and cycling. Nearby Tacoma offers Point Defiance Park, the waterfront, and cultural attractions, while Puget Sound and the region's parks and trails lie within easy reach.