St. Simons Island's housing spans a wide range of waterfront, marsh-front, and inland settings. Golf-club communities such as Sea Palms and Frederica Golf Club anchor some of the island's most established residential areas, alongside gated neighborhoods like Hampton Plantation and Hampton Point. Condominium options include communities such as Limeburn Village and the Hampton River Villas, appealing to second-home buyers and downsizers. Inland streets hold traditional Lowcountry-style and mid-century homes, while marsh-front and deepwater properties line the tidal creeks. The mix of resort-oriented, golf, and year-round neighborhoods gives buyers a broad spectrum of island living, from village cottages to estate properties.

St. Simons Island's neighborhoods reflect its layered resort and residential history. Pier Village, on the south end, is the downtown hub around the lighthouse, fishing pier, and Neptune Park. Sea Palms is a long-established golf-and-resort community, while Frederica Golf Club and the Commons at Frederica sit near the island's historic Frederica area. Hampton Plantation and Hampton Point are gated, largely golf-cart-oriented communities toward the north end. Condominium enclaves such as Limeburn Village and the Hampton River Villas provide lower-maintenance options near the water, and marsh-front communities like Marsh Oaks and Jones Creek Landing orient toward the tidal creeks. The island's neighborhoods are connected by a network of live-oak-lined roads rather than a single dense core.

St. Simons Island offers a relaxed, coastal Southern lifestyle built around the beach, the water, and the village. Pier Village is the island's social heart, where residents and visitors gather on the fishing pier, stroll past boutique shops, and eat near the lighthouse and Neptune Park. Golf is woven into daily life, with prominent clubs and courses across the island, and boating, kayaking, and fishing are constant options in the surrounding marshes and tidal creeks. The pace is unhurried and neighborly, with a strong sense of place rooted in the island's history. Evening light over the marshes, live oaks draped in Spanish moss, and the steady presence of the lighthouse give St. Simons a character distinct from the mainland.

St. Simons Island is served by the Glynn County School District, a public district based in nearby Brunswick that also serves the surrounding Glynn County communities. St. Simons Elementary School, located on the island, educates local students in pre-kindergarten through fifth grade and is known for its connection to the island's history and coastal setting. Older students attend Glynn County middle and high schools on the mainland. The district operates a range of traditional and magnet programs across the county, and private and independent school options exist across the Golden Isles region for families seeking alternatives.

St. Simons Island is reached from the mainland by the F.J. Torras Causeway, the island's sole road connection, which leads about seven miles into downtown Brunswick. Brunswick Golden Isles Airport is roughly 15 miles away, offering regional air service, while Jacksonville International Airport lies about an hour to the south and Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport about an hour and a half to the north. Interstate 95 is a short drive west on the mainland, providing access to points along the Georgia and Florida coasts. Within the island, residents navigate by car, bike, and, in several communities, golf cart, with Pier Village serving as the central destination.

Recreation on St. Simons Island centers on the coast and the links. Wide Atlantic beaches support swimming, surfcasting, and shoreline walks, while the surrounding salt marshes and tidal creeks draw kayakers, paddleboarders, and anglers. Fort Frederica National Monument preserves the island's colonial past, and the St. Simons Lighthouse Museum offers history and harbor views. Neptune Park, beside the pier, provides an oceanside pool, playground, miniature golf, and picnic areas. Golf is a cornerstone, with courses and clubs such as Sea Island Golf Club and Frederica Golf Club drawing players from across the region. Fishing charters, boat tours, and miles of bikeable island roads round out an outdoor-oriented coastal lifestyle.