Kalpakkam is located 70 kilometres towards the south of Chennai and is a DAE township. It is around 55 kilometres from Thiruvanmiyur and around 85 Kilometres from Puducherry. The area is located along the East Coast Road. TNSTC buses ply from here to Chennai, Pondicherry, Trichy, Bangalore, Nagercoil and Coimbatore. The area is a hub of government organizations such as Madras Atomic Power Station and Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research.

Kalpakkam real estate is much in demand for it is a planned township. Large scale developers such as Venus Estates, ETA Star, Hiranandani, Electro, Pelican Group, Star Property, Gita Properties, Elegant Realtors and City Square Enterprises have their projects located in the city. Property in Kalpakkam includes villas, apartments and plots which are of 1, 2, 3 and 4 BHK configuration. The prices of Kalpakkam property has increased by 25 percent in the last 26 months. The lowest rate of property in the area is Rs 350 per sq ft while the highest is Rs 4545 per sq ft.

Being a planned township, physical, civic and social amenities are well-placed. Schools such as Government Higher Secondary School, Kendriya Vidyalaya, Infant Jesus Matric Higher Secondary School and Atomic Energy Central School are located here. Hospitals in the vicinity are Kalpakkam DAE Hospital and Asan General Hospital and Dental Clinic. Several restaurants are located around the Central Bus Stand (BEMS Hotel), Icecap, Ammavin Adapangarai and Moongilkottai.