Blythe's housing stock is modest and affordable by California standards, reflecting its desert, agricultural setting. The city offers a mix of single-family ranch homes, mid-century houses, and newer subdivisions, along with mobile and manufactured homes that serve the area's agricultural workforce and retirees. Larger rural lots and acreage on the valley's edges appeal to buyers wanting space, and the Colorado River frontage adds a recreational-property niche. Because land and housing costs are lower than in coastal and inland Southern California markets, Blythe attracts first-time buyers, retirees, and those seeking a more economical foothold in the state while staying connected via Interstate 10.

Blythe is laid out as a compact desert city centered on Hobsonway and Lovekin Boulevard, with residential streets extending across the valley floor toward the Colorado River. Established neighborhoods cluster near the downtown core and the Palo Verde Valley's schools and civic buildings, while newer subdivisions and manufactured-home communities line the city's edges. River-adjacent areas and county land along the Colorado River offer recreational and acreage properties. The broader Palo Verde Valley includes small unincorporated communities and farm settlements that share Blythe's schools and services, giving the area a close-knit, spread-out character.

Blythe offers a desert-river lifestyle shaped by the Colorado River and the surrounding farm valley. Warm weather and the river make boating, fishing, kayaking, and water sports a way of life, with nearly 95 miles of navigable water stretching south toward Imperial Dam. The city functions as a farm-country hub, with agricultural rhythms, local rodeos, and small-town community events, while Interstate 10 keeps it connected to the wider region as a travel stop. Its position on the California–Arizona border gives residents access to amenities in Ehrenberg and Quartzsite, Arizona, and a relaxed, lower-density pace distinct from California's coastal cities.

Blythe is served by Palo Verde Unified School District, a TK-12 system of six schools enrolling about 2,700 students. The district operates elementary schools, Blythe Middle School, and Palo Verde Valley High School, serving the city and the surrounding Palo Verde Valley. As a small, rural district, it is closely tied to the community, with athletics and school events anchoring local life. Palo Verde College, located in the city, provides higher education, workforce training, and transfer pathways, making Blythe an educational hub for the far eastern Riverside County region.

Blythe sits directly on Interstate 10, the principal highway between Southern California and Arizona, placing it on one of the West's busiest travel corridors. The city is about 224 miles east of Los Angeles, roughly 150 miles from Phoenix, and just five miles from Ehrenberg, Arizona, across the Colorado River. U.S. Highway 95 provides a north-south route toward Needles and Yuma, and the river forms the natural border with Arizona. Most residents rely on cars, and the city's location makes it a practical base for regional trucking, agriculture, and travel-oriented commerce.

The Colorado River dominates recreation in Blythe, offering boating, fishing, kayaking, canoeing, and water sports, with a long stretch of navigable river between the city and Imperial Dam to the south. Palo Verde County Park provides riverfront access with panoramic views and wildlife viewing, and the broader Colorado River Recreation Area supports hunting, camping, and off-road exploration in the surrounding desert. The Colorado River 500, an off-road racing event, and local rodeos add to the outdoor calendar. Nearby state recreation areas and the Imperial Sand Dunes extend the region's appeal for off-roaders and campers.