Lake Worth's housing stock is anchored by its historic neighborhoods, where early-20th-century wood-frame cottages, bungalows, and Mission-style homes line the streets of districts such as College Park and Old Lucerne, both listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These colorful, character-rich homes define the city's older core and attract buyers drawn to preservation and architectural charm. Beyond the historic districts, the city includes a broad mix of mid-century single-family homes, duplexes, and small apartment buildings, along with condominiums, particularly near the beach and downtown. The housing is generally more modest in scale and denser than in neighboring coastal cities, reflecting Lake Worth's working-class roots and its position as one of the more affordable beachfront communities in Palm Beach County.

Downtown Lake Worth, centered on Lake Avenue and Lucerne Avenue, is the city's commercial and cultural core, with galleries, restaurants, and the Lake Worth Playhouse anchoring a walkable streetscape. Adjacent historic districts—College Park and Old Lucerne—contain some of the city's oldest and most architecturally distinctive homes and are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The beachside and lagoon-side areas offer a different character, with condominiums and older cottages close to the water. To the west of the Intracoastal and I-95, more conventional mid-century residential neighborhoods spread through the city's interior. This layering of a bohemian downtown, historic bungalow districts, and waterside housing gives Lake Worth a varied and distinctive neighborhood landscape.

Lake Worth offers a creative, laid-back coastal lifestyle with a strong sense of local identity. The downtown's galleries, murals, independent shops, and restaurants give the city a bohemian energy, while the annual street-painting festival and Palm Beach Pride bring large, celebratory events to the community. The beach and pier anchor an outdoors-oriented daily rhythm of swimming, fishing, and strolling, and the restored Snook Islands area adds quiet natural space along the lagoon. Residents value the city's diversity, its historic architecture, and its comparatively unpretentious character within Palm Beach County. With West Palm Beach's dining, arts, and employment just to the north, Lake Worth offers an authentic, community-centered alternative to more polished neighboring coastal towns.

Lake Worth is served by the School District of Palm Beach County, one of the largest school districts in Florida and the United States. The city's schools include Lake Worth High School and a network of elementary and middle schools serving different attendance zones, with the district offering magnet, choice, and career programs across the county. Because the district is large and boundaries follow specific addresses, families relocating to Lake Worth typically confirm the schools assigned to a particular home. The city's historic character and central location also put private, charter, and specialized educational options within reach. Local parks and recreation programs run youth sports leagues and after-school activities that complement the public school system.

Lake Worth sits directly between I-95 and the Atlantic Ocean, with the interstate running along the city's western edge and providing fast north–south access through Palm Beach County to West Palm Beach, Boca Raton, and the broader South Florida region. A Tri-Rail commuter rail station on Lake Worth Road connects the city to the regional rail network, with service south to Miami and north to Mangonia Park. Local streets and the Intracoastal bridges link the mainland to the beach, and the city's grid makes most destinations reachable by car or bicycle. Palm Beach International Airport lies a short distance northwest, and West Palm Beach's Brightline intercity rail station is nearby, offering additional regional and state connectivity.

Lake Worth's recreation centers on its beach and historic pier, which face the Atlantic and support swimming, fishing, and oceanfront strolls. The Snook Islands Natural Area along the Lake Worth Lagoon provides boardwalks, kayak access, and restored habitat for birds and marine life, offering a quieter natural counterpoint to the beach. The city's park system includes sports fields, playgrounds, and facilities for youth and adult leagues, with year-round programs run by the city's recreation department. Downtown's festivals—particularly the street-painting festival and Palm Beach Pride—add a rich calendar of cultural recreation. With the beaches, arts venues, and green spaces of Palm Beach County nearby, residents have abundant options for both everyday and special-occasion recreation.