Port O'Connor's housing reflects its identity as a fishing and retirement community on the bay. The stock includes modest single-family homes, stilted and elevated coastal construction, fishing cottages, and an increasing share of newer waterfront and canal-front homes oriented toward boating access. Much of the housing serves a mix of permanent residents and seasonal second-home owners drawn by the fishing and the coast. The community's small size keeps inventory limited, and properties with dock or canal access are especially sought after. Buyers are typically anglers, hunters, and retirees seeking a low-key coastal base on Matagorda Bay rather than a conventional suburban subdivision.

Port O'Connor is a compact coastal community organized around its harbor, canals, and the shoreline. Development clusters near the waterfront and along the canals that give many homes direct boat access, then thins into coastal marsh and ranchland. The community does not have formal large-scale subdivisions; instead, neighborhood character follows proximity to the water — bayfront, canal-front, and interior lots each carry distinct appeal. Marinas, boat ramps, and bait shops anchor the working waterfront, and the small commercial district serves both residents and visiting anglers. The overall feel is that of a tight-knit fishing village rather than a conventional town.

Life in Port O'Connor revolves around the water and the seasons of the coast. Fishing is the community's heartbeat, with residents and visitors launching for bay and offshore trips throughout the year, and marinas and guide services forming the social and economic core. Winter brings waterfowl hunters to the marshes, while birders follow the Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail year-round. The pace is quiet and unhurried, with a strong sense of community among year-round residents and a seasonal rhythm driven by fishing, hunting, and weather. Amenities are modest, with larger shopping and services in Port Lavaca and Victoria, but the tradeoff is direct access to one of the Texas coast's premier fishing grounds.

Public education for Port O'Connor is provided by the Calhoun County Independent School District, which operates the local Port O'Connor School serving the community's younger students, with secondary students attending schools in the district, including in Port Lavaca and the surrounding county. The district serves the entire Calhoun County area, and its schools are a central part of community life in this rural coastal region. Families should confirm attendance zones through the district, as the small local campus serves a limited grade range. For higher education, Victoria College and other regional institutions are within commuting distance.

Port O'Connor is reached by State Highway 185, which connects the community to Port Lavaca, the Calhoun County seat, and onward to the Victoria metropolitan area. The community's waterfront position on the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway makes it an important waypoint for boat traffic moving between the Mississippi River system and the Texas coast, and the Matagorda Ship Channel provides access to the Gulf of Mexico. For residents, personal vehicles are essential, and the nearest regional airport and major services are in Victoria. Within the community, the compact layout is easily navigable, and much of daily life is oriented around the harbor and boat ramps.

Recreation in Port O'Connor is anchored by fishing — both inshore bay fishing in Matagorda and Espiritu Santo bays and offshore Gulf trips — and the community is widely regarded as one of the Texas coast's premier angling destinations. Waterfowl hunting in the coastal marshes and along the migratory flyways draws hunters each winter, while the Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail brings birders to observe the region's diverse species. Matagorda Island, a barrier island of more than 56,000 acres, offers undeveloped beaches, wildlife viewing, and a sense of the wild Texas coast. Boating, kayaking, crabbing, and beachcombing round out an outdoor lifestyle defined by the water.