Indian Shores' housing stock is dominated by condominiums, ranging from older Gulf-front buildings to newer townhome and villa developments, with many units offering either direct Gulf views or Intracoastal Waterway frontage. Communities such as Gulf Shores, Golden Shores, and Bay Shores Yacht and Tennis Club illustrate the area's condo lifestyle, often including pools, docks, and beach access. The town also contains a limited number of single-family beach homes and waterfront properties. As a narrow barrier island with finite land, Indian Shores is essentially built out, making its market a function of resale and renovation rather than new land development.

Indian Shores is organized along Gulf Boulevard, the barrier island's north-south spine, with the Gulf of Mexico to the west and the Intracoastal Waterway to the east. Named communities function more as building identities than traditional neighborhoods, with complexes such as Gulf Shores, Golden Shores, and Bay Shores Yacht and Tennis Club defining distinct residential pockets. The narrowness of the island means nearly every address is within walking distance of both the beach and the waterway, and the town's limited footprint gives it an intimate, resort-like cohesion rather than a conventional suburban subdivision pattern.

Indian Shores offers a relaxed, beach-oriented lifestyle that balances residential calm with the appeal of a Gulf Coast destination. Days revolve around the beach, fishing, boating, and sunset walks, with a solid base of restaurants, coffee shops, and beach bars along Gulf Boulevard, including longtime local fixtures such as the Salt Rock Grill. The town draws many retirees and second-home owners, giving it a quiet, unhurried atmosphere even during the high season, when vacation rentals fill with visitors. Community life centers on the town's small park, tennis court, and waterfront recreation rather than large-scale commercial development.

Indian Shores is served by the Pinellas County School District, which operates a broad network of public, magnet, and charter schools across the county. Because no public schools are located within the town's own limits, students attend district campuses in neighboring Seminole and the surrounding beach communities, a short drive across the Park Boulevard or Indian Rocks bridges. The district's choice and magnet programs give families options beyond their zoned school, and several private schools are available in the wider Pinellas area. The town's small size and seasonal population keep school commutes brief and manageable.

Gulf Boulevard is Indian Shores' principal roadway, running the length of the barrier island and connecting the town north to Indian Rocks Beach and south to the Redington Beaches and Madeira Beach. The Park Boulevard and Indian Rocks bridges link the island to mainland Seminole and Largo, providing access to the Pinellas County road network and U.S. 19. St. Petersburg is roughly 20 to 30 minutes away, downtown Tampa about 30 to 40 minutes, and Tampa International Airport reachable in under an hour. There is no fixed-route transit directly in town, so residents and visitors rely primarily on cars, with the county's bus system available on the mainland.

Recreation in Indian Shores is inseparable from the water. More than two miles of public Gulf beach provide swimming, shelling, and sunset watching, while the Intracoastal Waterway supports boating, kayaking, and fishing from docks and piers. The town maintains a public tennis court behind Town Hall and a small park, and the surrounding Pinellas beaches offer a continuous corridor of waterfront parks and marinas. Saltwater fishing charters, paddleboarding, and birding are popular, and residents can reach the region's larger attractions — including Tampa Bay's professional sports and the Pinellas Trail — within a short drive.