The short version
Novaliches is too large and varied for a single lifestyle verdict. Novaliches Proper, Quirino Highway, Bagbag, Pasong Putik, Fairview and the subdivisions around them have different roads, housing and daily centres. The common thread is a dense local economy and the absence of a simple rail commute into central Manila.
A town inside the metropolis
The area has a long history as a former municipality, later divided between Quezon City and Caloocan. The district’s modern life is organised around local town centres, schools, markets and subdivision gates rather than one central civic square. That can be satisfying if your life is local. It is demanding if every weekday points south.
Fairview’s mall cluster gives the western side a substantial retail anchor. In the rest of Novaliches, the exact road matters more than the broad area label. Ask about drainage, the nearest transport stop, school traffic and how a ride reaches Commonwealth before you compare two listings.
Would I live here?
Yes, for a northern household with work and school nearby. I would not choose Novaliches for a daily central commute unless the job made the trade worthwhile. Its local economy is an advantage, but it cannot shorten the road.