Housing in Baxley is predominantly single-family and modestly scaled, reflecting the city's role as a rural county seat. The stock includes older homes near the downtown and courthouse, mid-century ranch houses, and newer construction on the city's edges, with larger rural acreage available in the surrounding timber and farm country. Homeownership rates are high, and the cost of housing is low compared with the state's metropolitan areas, drawing families and retirees seeking space and a slower pace.

Baxley is organized around its downtown and the Appling County courthouse, with residential neighborhoods radiating outward along the city's street grid. Older homes line the tree-shaded streets near the center, while subdivisions and newer homes occupy the city's perimeter. Beyond the city limits, the landscape opens into pine timberland and farmland, with scattered rural homesites. The community's neighborhoods reflect its long history as a county seat rather than rapid suburban growth.

Life in Baxley moves at a South Georgia pace, centered on church, school, and community events. The Appling County Recreation Department runs youth sports, and high school football at Jimmy Swain Stadium draws the community together in the fall. Residents rely on the city's shops, restaurants, and medical services as a regional hub. The Altamaha River, Moody Forest, and nearby lakes provide hunting, fishing, and paddling for outdoor enthusiasts.

Public schools in Baxley are operated by the Appling County School District, which serves K-12 students through Appling County Elementary, Appling County Middle, and Appling County High School. The district also participates in Georgia's HOPE Scholarship program, which provides tuition assistance to qualifying graduates. Schools are a central part of community life, with athletics and other activities anchoring the local calendar.

Baxley sits along U.S. Route 1, which runs north–south through the city and connects it to the broader southeast Georgia region. U.S. Route 341 also serves the area, providing routes toward Brunswick and the coast. The Macon and Brunswick Railroad, which shaped the city's founding, still carries freight through the region. Most travel is by private vehicle, with regional airports and larger cities within a drive of the county seat.

The Altamaha River is the centerpiece of outdoor recreation near Baxley, offering fishing, kayaking, canoeing, and wildlife viewing along one of the East Coast's largest free-flowing rivers. Moody Forest Natural Area provides hiking and nature observation in a longleaf pine and bottomland setting. Lake Mayer and other local lakes support boating, swimming, and fishing, and the surrounding timberlands offer hunting and rural recreation.