Somerville's housing stock is modest and small-town in scale, with a mix of older single-family homes near the center of the city and larger rural lots on the outskirts, where some properties offer space for boats, trailers, and equipment. Lake-oriented buyers often seek homes or parcels within easy reach of the shoreline and the state park's two units. The market leans toward affordability and land rather than new subdivisions, appealing to people who value space, quiet, and lake access over dense amenities.

Somerville is a compact city set near the shore of Lake Somerville, with its downtown and older residential blocks clustered around the main road through town. Neighborhoods are small and unassuming, blending into Burleson County ranch and farm country at the edges. There are no large master-planned communities; instead, the city reads as a traditional Texas small town with a clear center, a scattering of established streets, and the lake and state park lands as its defining neighbors.

Life in Somerville is tied to the lake. Boating, fishing, camping, and swimming set the weekend rhythm, and the trailway brings hikers and cyclists through the surrounding countryside. The town itself is quiet, with local businesses, churches, and school events anchoring daily life, and many residents travel to Bryan–College Station for larger shopping, employment, and medical needs. The result is a relaxed, outdoors-oriented pace that suits people who want to live close to the water.

Somerville is served by Somerville ISD, an independent school district based in the city that operates the community's public schools for families in and around the Burleson County area. The district provides a full K-12 education locally, keeping students close to home, and is a central part of small-town life. For higher education, residents are within reach of Texas A&M University and other institutions in the Bryan–College Station area.

Somerville sits in east-central Texas, within reach of the Bryan–College Station metropolitan area for employment, education, and medical care. The city is car-dependent, with no fixed transit service, and residents use the state highways that cross Burleson County to reach surrounding towns. Its position near Lake Somerville makes it a destination for weekend visitors from College Station, Houston, and Austin, while everyday commuting remains oriented toward the regional hubs to the east.

Lake Somerville State Park and Trailway is the centerpiece of local recreation, protecting about 8,700 acres across the Birch Creek and Nails Creek units. The park offers boating, fishing, swimming, camping, and shoreline access on Lake Somerville, while the 26-mile Somerville Trailway links the units for hiking, biking, and horseback riding. The reservoir itself, built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, draws anglers and boaters throughout the year, making Somerville a true gateway to outdoor recreation.