Summerville's housing stock reflects its age and small-town scale. Older, modest single-family homes cluster around the downtown and courthouse area, while newer construction and larger lots spread into the surrounding countryside and along the area's rural roads. The city serves as the commercial center of Chattooga County, so its housing mix includes both in-town residences and nearby rural acreage. Buyers are typically drawn to the affordability of small-town northwest Georgia, the space, and the slower pace, with homes ranging from established bungalows and ranch-style houses to larger properties on the outskirts.

Summerville is centered on its historic downtown and courthouse square, with residential streets extending outward into surrounding neighborhoods. Older homes line the streets near the city center, while more recent development spreads toward the city's edges and along the rural roads of Chattooga County. The compact, walkable core holds the courthouse, churches, and local businesses, giving the city a traditional Southern county-seat layout. The Paradise Garden site sits a short distance north of downtown, and the surrounding foothills and farmland frame the community's neighborhoods.

Life in Summerville carries the pace of a small northwest Georgia county seat with an outsized cultural footprint. The presence of Paradise Garden brings artists, folk-art enthusiasts, and visitors to the area, lending the town a creative identity alongside its traditional Southern character. Local churches, the historic courthouse square, and community events anchor daily life, while the surrounding Appalachian foothills provide a scenic backdrop. Residents value the close-knit, small-town atmosphere, and for larger shopping, dining, and medical services, Rome and Chattanooga sit within a regional drive.

Public education in Summerville is provided by Chattooga County Schools, which operates elementary, middle, and high schools serving the city and the surrounding county. The district is the public school system for the Summerville area, and its schools are a central part of community life. Families relocating to the city typically evaluate specific school assignments based on their address, as the district serves both in-town and rural areas. The county-seat setting means schools, along with the courthouse and local government, anchor the community's institutions.

Summerville is connected to the region by U.S. Highway 27, which runs through the area as the primary north-south route, along with state highways that link the city to Rome, Chattanooga, and nearby communities. The city sits roughly 90 miles northwest of Atlanta and within a regional drive of Rome and Chattanooga, Tennessee. As in most of rural northwest Georgia, daily life is car-dependent, but the highway network makes trips to larger cities and their employment, shopping, and medical services practical for residents.

Summerville's standout attraction is Paradise Garden, the folk-art environment created by Howard Finster, offering a one-of-a-kind cultural experience in the Appalachian foothills. The historic downtown and courthouse square provide a walkable center, and the surrounding countryside supports outdoor pursuits such as hiking, fishing, and hunting. The city sits within reach of the Chattahoochee National Forest and other northwest Georgia recreation areas, while Rome and Chattanooga offer larger parks, trails, and entertainment within a regional drive. Local parks and community events round out the recreation picture for residents.