Covington's housing stock is predominantly suburban and relatively recent, reflecting the city's 1997 incorporation and its growth through the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries. Single-family homes in planned subdivisions make up the bulk of the market, joined by some townhomes and multifamily development near the city's commercial corridors. Homes are generally newer and set on standard suburban lots, with the surrounding plateau providing views and open space at the edges. The city's newer construction and neighborhood-oriented layout distinguish it from older, denser South King County suburbs, and it draws buyers seeking a family-friendly setting.

Covington is organized around a series of residential subdivisions and the commercial corridors that serve them, rather than a single historic downtown. The city's neighborhoods cluster near its parks and schools, with Lake Meridian on the western edge anchoring recreation and waterfront activity. Commercial development lines the Kent-Kangley Road and State Route 18 corridors, while residential streets spread across the plateau toward Maple Valley. Because the city is young and primarily suburban, its neighborhoods tend to be newer, landscaped, and oriented toward families, schools, and parks.

Life in Covington is family-centered and suburban. The city's parks — led by Lake Meridian Park — provide swimming, picnicking, and community events, while local schools and youth sports anchor the social calendar. Residents do much of their shopping and dining along the city's commercial corridors and in nearby Kent, Maple Valley, and Auburn. The city's position between the Kent Valley and the Cascade foothills gives residents convenient access to both employment centers and outdoor recreation, from the trails and lakes of the plateau to the mountains to the east.

Covington is served entirely by the Kent School District, one of Washington's largest districts, which educates students across Kent, Covington, and surrounding unincorporated King County. Covington Elementary School and other district campuses serve the city's students, with older students attending the district's middle and high schools. Nearby higher-education options include Green River College in Auburn and Renton Technical College, along with the universities of the Seattle area. The district's size gives families access to a broad range of programs and school options.

Covington's transportation centers on State Route 18 and the Kent-Kangley Road (State Route 516) corridor, which together link the city to Kent, Auburn, and Maple Valley and, beyond them, to Interstate 5 and the greater Seattle region. State Route 18 provides a route to Interstate 90 and the Eastside, making Covington a practical base for commuters to the Kent Valley, Renton, Bellevue, and Seattle. Public transit is available through King County Metro. Seattle-Tacoma International Airport lies to the west, reached via the regional highway network.

Recreation in Covington is anchored by Lake Meridian Park, a waterfront park offering swimming, fishing, picnicking, and community events on the lake's shore. The city's neighborhood parks, sports fields, and trail connections provide additional local recreation. The broader plateau and the nearby Cascade foothills offer hiking, biking, and open space, while the lakes and rivers of South King County and the mountains to the east are within easy reach. For larger cultural and entertainment options, Kent, Seattle, and Tacoma are all accessible by car.