Astatula's housing is a mix of rural and small-town forms. The lakeside and in-town areas hold a blend of older frame homes and modest mid-century houses, while the surrounding countryside is dotted with larger-lot properties, some with acreage and room for horses, along with manufactured homes. Waterfront and canal-front parcels along Little Lake Harris and the chain are a distinct and sought-after subset, offering direct boating access. Development pressure from the Orlando area has introduced some newer construction, but the town's overall character remains low-density and semi-rural.

Astatula doesn't subdivide into formal neighborhoods so much as a series of lakeside, in-town, and rural pockets. The area nearest Little Lake Harris and the boat ramp forms the waterfront core, where canal and shoreline homes cluster. Monroe Street and the original townsite hold the older, in-town blocks near town hall and the post office. Beyond them, rural roads fan out through former citrus and pasture land, where larger lots and acreage properties dominate. This spread-out pattern gives the town an open, unhurried feel.

Life in Astatula revolves around the water and the unhurried rhythms of small-town Florida. Boating, fishing, and watching the light on Little Lake Harris are everyday pleasures, and the public boat ramp makes the wider Harris Chain — including the restaurants and docks of Mount Dora — easily reachable by boat. The town itself is quiet, with local services supplemented by nearby Tavares, Leesburg, and Mount Dora. A rural sensibility prevails, with many residents keeping boats, horses, or gardens and valuing space over density.

Astatula's public students attend Lake County Schools, the district that serves the entire county, with elementary campuses serving the immediate area and middle and high schools located in nearby Tavares and the surrounding communities. The district spans both small rural towns and fast-growing suburban areas, so it provides a broad range of academic and career programs. Private and charter options in the region add further choice for families.

Astatula is reached by County Road 561, the town's main street, which connects north to Tavares and south toward U.S. Route 27 and the Four Corners area. U.S. Highway 441 and the Florida Turnpike run through the region nearby, providing routes toward Orlando, Ocala, and the attractions of Central Florida. Daily life is car-dependent, as in most of Lake County, though the town's boat ramp underscores a distinctly aquatic form of local travel: by water, residents can reach Mount Dora and the rest of the Harris Chain.

Recreation in Astatula is anchored by Little Lake Harris and the Harris Chain of Lakes. The town's public boat ramp offers launch access to a waterway that links Lake Eustis and Lake Dora, allowing boaters to reach Mount Dora's lakeside restaurants and docks. Fishing for bass and other freshwater species is a local staple, and the lakeshore supports kayaking, waterskiing, and sunset cruising. Inland, the Green Mountain Scenic Byway and the rolling terrain of Lake County offer cycling and scenic drives, while Tavares and Mount Dora host festivals and lakefront events.