Lemon Grove's housing stock is largely mid-century and older single-family homes on modest, established lots, reflecting its development as a working-class suburb during San Diego's post-war expansion. California ranch, cottage, and Spanish-influenced bungalow styles are common, with some newer infill and multifamily construction near Broadway and the trolley stations. Neighborhoods such as Lemon Grove Addition, Mildred Way, and Lemon Grove Park offer a mix of well-kept older homes and renovated properties. Compared with coastal San Diego, the city provides more attainable single-family housing, which attracts first-time buyers and families seeking proximity to the urban core without coastal price points.

Lemon Grove is organized around the Broadway corridor and its trolley line. The area near Lemon Grove Depot functions as the city's commercial heart, surrounded by older residential streets. Established neighborhoods including Lemon Grove Addition, Mildred Way, and Lemon Grove Park represent the city's classic mid-century housing areas, each with mature landscaping and neighborhood parks. The Massachusetts Avenue station area serves as a commuter hub on the city's west side, with a park-and-ride lot for riders heading downtown. Because the city is compact — roughly four square miles — residents are never far from Broadway's shops or the civic core, and much of the surrounding land belongs to the city of San Diego.

Lemon Grove offers a small-town feel inside the San Diego metro. Broadway, the city's main corridor, carries local restaurants, shops, and civic buildings, and a Saturday farmers market sets up at the Lemon Grove Depot, reflecting the community's neighborhood-oriented rhythm. Community events, recreation programs, and youth sports run through the city's Parks and Recreation department. Residents enjoy close access to San Diego's beaches, downtown, and attractions while living in a more affordable, compact East County setting. The Big Lemon and the city's citrus heritage give Lemon Grove a distinct local identity that residents actively celebrate through the historical society and annual community gatherings.

Lemon Grove is served by two public school systems. The Lemon Grove School District handles preschool through middle school across several campuses, while the Grossmont Union High School District provides high school education and serves students from Lemon Grove along with El Cajon, Santee, and nearby unincorporated areas. The city's schools are tied to a significant piece of local history: the 1931 Lemon Grove Incident, in which families successfully fought a segregated school, stands as the nation's first successful school desegregation case. Private school options exist in the area, and the city's location offers ready access to San Diego-area community colleges and universities.

Lemon Grove sits just east of downtown San Diego, reached via State Route 94 and near State Route 125 and Interstate 8. The San Diego Trolley's Orange Line is the city's transit backbone, stopping at Lemon Grove Depot on Broadway and the Massachusetts Avenue park-and-ride station, and connecting riders directly to downtown San Diego, El Cajon, and other East County points. Metropolitan Transit System bus routes supplement the trolley. The city's compact, roughly four-square-mile layout means most neighborhoods are a short drive or walk from Broadway, while the trolley gives commuters a practical alternative to freeway traffic.

The city maintains six municipal parks, led by Lemon Grove Park, which offers green space, playgrounds, and sports facilities close to the civic center. The Parks and Recreation department runs camps, youth sports, classes, and community events throughout the year. The Big Lemon on Broadway serves as both a photo stop and a symbol of civic pride, while the Lemon Grove Historical Society preserves the community's citrus and civil-rights history. Because the city sits within the greater San Diego area, residents are within easy reach of regional draws including Balboa Park, the San Diego Zoo, Mission Bay, and the Pacific beaches, all accessible by car or trolley connection.