Templeton's housing stock blends the feel of a historic railroad town with modern wine-country living. Brick homes are a signature local style, and the community mixes older in-town residences with newer single-family subdivisions and larger semi-rural properties. Neighborhoods such as Wildwood offer landscaped homes with homeowners' associations near parks and U.S. 101, while East Templeton features a range of ranch-style and contemporary builds. Many homes sit on generous lots, and the surrounding countryside adds acreage and vineyard-adjacent properties. The result is a family-oriented market of established homes and newer construction, set within one of the Central Coast's most desirable wine regions.

Templeton is organized around its historic Main Street core and several distinct residential areas. East Templeton offers a family-friendly mix of classic ranch-style and modern homes with a suburban feel and natural surroundings. Wildwood, a landscaped neighborhood with a homeowners' association, sits near Tom Jermin Sr. Park and U.S. Route 101, making it convenient for commuters and families. The older in-town blocks near Main Street hold the community's brick homes and small-town character, while the surrounding countryside provides larger parcels, vineyard properties, and rural acreage. This variety lets buyers choose between walkable town living and more spacious wine-country settings.

Templeton pairs a small-town, family-oriented feel with life at the center of the Paso Robles wine country. Residents enjoy a sparse suburban and semi-rural setting with restaurants, parks, and winery tasting rooms close at hand, while the town's Main Street and community events preserve a neighborly atmosphere. The Templeton Gap's wineries and rolling vineyards shape both the scenery and the local culture, and Paso Robles, just to the north, offers a lively downtown, restaurants, and annual events. With San Luis Obispo and the Central Coast beaches south along U.S. 101, Templeton offers a wine-country lifestyle with coastal access and strong schools, appealing to families and professionals alike.

Templeton is served by the Templeton Unified School District, a K-12 district based in the community with seven schools and roughly 2,200 students. The district serves Templeton and surrounding areas of northern San Luis Obispo County, providing a complete educational pathway from elementary through high school. Its reputation for quality schools is a significant draw for families choosing the area. For higher education, Cuesta College in San Luis Obispo County and California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo are within commuting distance along the U.S. 101 corridor.

Templeton sits directly on U.S. Route 101, the Central Coast's main north-south corridor, providing an easy commute to Paso Robles to the north and Atascadero and San Luis Obispo to the south. The San Luis Obispo Regional Transit Authority operates bus routes connecting Templeton to neighboring communities, though most residents rely on personal vehicles. The town's rail heritage continues with the nearby Coast Starlight route serving the region, and San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport provides air service. The location balances rural wine-country living with convenient highway access along one of California's key coastal corridors.

Templeton's recreation centers on the outdoors and the wine country. Local parks such as Tom Jermin Sr. Park provide sports fields, playgrounds, and community space, and the town's location opens onto the rolling vineyards and oak-studded hills of the Templeton Gap for cycling, walking, and scenic drives. Wine tasting at the district's many wineries and tasting rooms is a defining local pastime. Paso Robles, minutes north, adds a lively downtown, restaurants, and events, while the Central Coast beaches, Morro Bay, and San Luis Obispo lie within an easy drive south. The four-season climate and rural setting make outdoor recreation a year-round way of life.