Lawrenceville's housing stock spans more than a century of construction. Around the historic square, the city's oldest neighborhoods feature a mix of early twentieth-century homes and renovated cottages on small, walkable lots. Extending outward, subdivisions built from the 1970s through the 1990s — such as Flowers Crossing at the Mill, Edgewater, and Water Oak Estates — offer traditional single-family homes on larger lots, often with community amenities. Newer gated communities including The Enclave at Stonehaven and Village at Telfair add more recent construction in planned settings. This range means Lawrenceville offers options from historic in-town living to newer planned neighborhoods, all within a short drive of the downtown square and the area's major road corridors.

Lawrenceville is anchored by its historic downtown square, the city's original center, where the courthouse, Lawrenceville Arts Center, and a cluster of restaurants and shops sit within walking distance of older residential streets. Around the core, established subdivisions such as Flowers Crossing at the Mill, Edgewater, and Stratford Square represent the city's suburban expansion, offering mature trees, neighborhood pools, and a mix of floor plans. Water Oak Estates and similar communities add larger-lot options, while newer gated neighborhoods like The Enclave at Stonehaven and Village at Telfair provide more recently built homes in planned settings. Because Lawrenceville grew outward from the square over many decades, its neighborhoods vary widely in age and character, from historic in-town blocks to contemporary subdivisions near the city's edges.

Lawrenceville's lifestyle centers on its historic square, which functions as a genuine community gathering place. The Lawrenceville Arts Center and Aurora Theatre anchor the cultural scene with professional theater, concerts, and children's programs, while the surrounding streets hold locally owned restaurants, boutiques, and coffee shops. Seasonal and community events — from holiday celebrations to the Moonlight and Music series — bring residents to the square throughout the year. Beyond downtown, Rhodes Jordan Park and the county's larger park network provide ball fields, a recreation center, and a seasonal pool. The city's role as the Gwinnett County seat also gives it an active civic life, with government services, courts, and community institutions concentrated near the center of town.

Lawrenceville is served by Gwinnett County Public Schools, the largest school district in Georgia, with more than 180,000 students across about 140 schools. The district's administrative headquarters are located in Lawrenceville, reflecting the city's position as the Gwinnett County seat. Students are assigned to schools through the district's cluster system, with a network of elementary, middle, and high schools serving the Lawrenceville area. The city is also home to Georgia Gwinnett College, a four-year public institution, and is near Gwinnett Technical College, adding higher-education and career-training options within the immediate area. Private and parochial schools round out the local education landscape.

Lawrenceville sits where several major routes converge, including State Route 316, Highway 29, Highway 20, State Route 124, and State Route 120. State Route 316 links the city to Interstate 85, placing downtown Atlanta roughly 30 minutes away and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport about 45 minutes away by car. Gwinnett County Transit provides local and commuter bus service connecting Lawrenceville to points around the county and toward Atlanta. Within the city, the compact downtown grid is walkable, while the surrounding neighborhoods are primarily automobile-oriented. The city's position in the northeast Atlanta suburbs makes it a practical base for commuters throughout the Gwinnett corridor.

Rhodes Jordan Park is Lawrenceville's best-known recreation destination, offering baseball and softball fields, a community recreation center with a gym, a seasonal leisure pool, and event space. The city's downtown square doubles as a venue for recurring community events, including holiday celebrations and outdoor music series. The surrounding Gwinnett County park system extends outdoor options with additional trails, sports fields, and green space, and nearby lakes and greenways serve the broader northeast Atlanta suburbs. Indoor recreation in Lawrenceville includes fitness centers and organized youth and adult sports leagues, giving residents a well-rounded set of year-round activities close to home.