Bethel Island's housing is closely tied to its waterways. The stock includes canal-front and waterfront homes with private docks, along with modest single-family houses and a notable share of manufactured homes and older, small-footprint residences. Many properties are oriented toward boating access, and the island's relaxed, recreational character makes it popular as both a permanent residence and a weekend getaway. The community's relative affordability compared with the broader Bay Area, combined with direct Delta water access, is a key draw. Buyers are typically boaters, retirees, and those seeking an affordable, water-centered lifestyle, often accepting older or smaller homes in exchange for waterfront living.

Bethel Island is a single, cohesive island community rather than a collection of distinct neighborhoods, and its layout is defined by the levee system and the network of waterways that thread through it. Homes cluster along the canals and the island's waterfront edges, where boat docks and water access are the defining features, while interior streets hold more modest, land-only lots. The island's marinas and small commercial area serve as gathering points. Because the community is compact and ringed by levees, residents share a strong sense of island identity, and the distinction between areas is largely one of water access — canal-front versus interior — rather than formal neighborhood divisions.

Life on Bethel Island is defined by the water. Boating is the community's central pastime, with residents launching from marinas and private docks to fish, cruise, and explore the Delta's extensive network of channels and sloughs. The pace is relaxed and unhurried, and the community attracts a significant number of retirees along with boaters and weekend residents. Daily life is oriented around the waterways, marinas, and the island's small commercial center, while larger shopping, dining, and medical services are found in Antioch and Brentwood on the mainland. The combination of quiet seclusion and direct water access gives Bethel Island a character unlike any other community in Contra Costa County.

Students who live on Bethel Island attend schools in the surrounding eastern Contra Costa County communities, reached by the levee roads that connect the island to the mainland. The island itself does not host a large school campus, and families typically travel to nearby communities for elementary and secondary education. The broader region offers a range of public and charter school options, and families commonly confirm school assignments through the appropriate district offices. For higher education, Los Medanos College in nearby Pittsburg and other institutions in the Bay Area are within commuting distance, giving island residents access to the region's broader educational resources.

Bethel Island is accessed by levee roads connecting it to the mainland, with Bethel Island Road providing the principal route to and from the island and linking to State Route 160, the main highway through the California Delta. State Route 160 connects the area to Antioch and the broader Contra Costa County and Bay Area road network to the south and west, and north toward the Sacramento region. Commuting to Antioch, Brentwood, Oakley, and other nearby employment centers is straightforward by car, though the island itself is quiet and low-traffic. Personal vehicles are essential, and the island's rural setting means residents travel to the mainland for most services.

Recreation on Bethel Island is centered on the water. The island's marinas, boat launches, and private docks provide access to the Delta's extensive network of channels, sloughs, and open water, supporting boating, waterskiing, kayaking, and paddleboarding. Fishing is a major draw, with the Delta offering a productive fishery for striped bass and other species. The island is a popular launch point for exploring the wider Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta by boat, and its relaxed, low-key atmosphere makes it a favored destination for weekend recreation. The surrounding Delta region also offers wildlife viewing, birding, and scenic cruising through one of California's most distinctive landscapes.