Nixon's housing stock consists of modest single-family homes on town lots, with a high share of owner-occupied residences and a suburban-rural character. The surrounding Gonzales County countryside offers larger parcels, farmhouses, and rural acreage for those seeking land. New construction is limited, and the market is unhurried. The town's appeal lies in its quiet, close-knit residential character, its local school district, and its affordability relative to larger South Texas cities rather than in rapid growth or subdivision development.

Nixon is a small, straightforward town laid out around its downtown and the historic railroad corridor, with residential streets spreading outward from the center. The downtown holds the city's older commercial buildings and the sites recalled by its historical markers, including the depot, cotton gins, and early businesses. Homes transition quickly to farmland at the town's edges, and there are no large subdivisions. The town's compact geography keeps most residences within a short drive of the schools, downtown, and the surrounding countryside.

Life in Nixon is small-town and family-oriented, with a suburban-rural mix and a pace tied to south-central Texas agriculture. The community's identity is rooted in its railroad and agricultural past, and the schools, churches, and local businesses form the center of daily life. Most residents own their homes, and the town's modest scale keeps neighbors and institutions closely connected. For employment, shopping, and services beyond the basics, residents look to nearby Seguin and Cuero, with San Antonio within driving distance for the region's larger amenities.

Nixon is served by the Nixon-Smiley Consolidated Independent School District, which is based in the city and operates about five schools from elementary through high school. The district also serves the nearby community of Smiley, and its boundaries extend into small portions of Guadalupe, Karnes, and Wilson counties alongside Gonzales County. This consolidated, locally focused arrangement keeps students within the community's own district, with the school system serving as a central institution of the town.

Nixon sits in south-central Texas between San Antonio and the Gulf Coast, with regional access provided by the state and U.S. highway network that ties the town to Seguin to the north and Cuero to the south. San Antonio, the nearest large city, lies within driving distance for air travel, major employment, and services. Personal vehicles are essential, and the town's rural setting keeps it quiet while remaining connected to the larger communities of the region.

Recreation in Nixon is modest and community-based, centered on the schools' athletics, local parks, and the surrounding countryside. The nearby rivers and rural landscapes of south-central Texas offer fishing, hunting, and outdoor recreation, while Seguin and San Antonio provide larger parks, events, and cultural amenities within driving distance. The town's historical markers and its railroad-era heritage give residents and visitors a small but genuine sense of place rooted in the community's agricultural and transportation past.