Charlotte's housing stock reflects its small-town, South Texas character. The city contains a mix of older single-family homes on tree-shaded in-town lots, along with ranch-style houses and larger properties on acreage in the surrounding countryside. Many homes date from the mid-20th century, and the market is modest and locally oriented, serving families with ties to the area's ranching and agricultural economy. The rural outskirts offer room for larger lots, livestock, and equipment, while the in-town core provides a traditional, close-set neighborhood feel.

Charlotte is organized around a compact town center, where the school campus, churches, and local businesses form the community's core. Residential streets spread outward from this center in a traditional small-town grid, while the surrounding countryside consists of ranches, farms, and rural homesites connected by county roads. The community's neighborhoods are predominantly single-family and established, and the town's small scale means most residents live within a short distance of the schools and everyday services.

Life in Charlotte is rooted in small-town South Texas culture. The ranching and agricultural heritage of Atascosa County shapes the community's identity, and local life revolves around the schools, churches, and family gatherings. Residents enjoy a slower pace and close community ties, with San Antonio providing larger employment, shopping, dining, and entertainment within commuting distance. The surrounding countryside offers open space and a connection to the land that defines the region's character.

Charlotte is served by the Charlotte Independent School District, a rural public district based in the city and serving the surrounding Atascosa County area. The district is a central institution in the community, with a student body that is predominantly Hispanic. Its campuses provide a complete K-12 pathway close to home, and the district's small scale fosters a close-knit educational environment. For additional programs and higher education, families draw on resources in Jourdanton, Pleasanton, and the greater San Antonio area.

Charlotte sits within Atascosa County's rural road network south of San Antonio, with Interstate 37 and U.S. 281 providing the principal connections to the metro area through nearby Jourdanton and Pleasanton. This positioning places San Antonio's employment, airport, and cultural attractions within commuting distance while keeping Charlotte itself away from the freeway corridors. Personal vehicles are essential, and daily travel is oriented toward the county's towns and the San Antonio region to the north.