Davenport's housing stock is unusual in Florida: it mixes a small original town core with large, master-planned resort communities built primarily since the 1990s and 2000s. Communities such as ChampionsGate, Providence, and Solterra anchor the market with a range of property types — golf-front single-family homes, townhouses, and condominiums — many of them designed with short-term vacation rental in mind. Providence is a guard-gated, golf-centered community with a stronger full-time-resident character, while Solterra is a resort-style neighborhood oriented toward short-term rentals. Away from the resorts, more traditional single-family subdivisions such as Davenport Lakes offer waterfront living around small lakes. This spectrum gives buyers meaningful choice, though it also means the character of a given street can depend heavily on whether surrounding homes are owner-occupied, long-term rentals, or vacation properties.

Davenport's neighborhoods fall into a few clear categories. ChampionsGate is the best-known, a large golf-anchored community that spans the Polk–Osceola county line just off I-4 and encompasses several subdivisions, including The Retreat, The Country Club, and The Estates, around Greg Norman-designed golf courses and the Omni resort. Providence is a guard-gated, master-planned golf community with a blend of full-time residents and seasonal owners, along with a golf course, resort pool, tennis courts, and a fitness center. Solterra Resort is a resort-style community geared toward short-term vacation rentals. Davenport Lakes, a waterfront community built around a series of small lakes, offers a more traditional single-family and townhouse mix. Together these communities reflect Davenport's dual identity as both a hometown and a vacation destination.

Day-to-day life in Davenport is shaped by its location on the edge of the world's largest theme-park cluster. Residents can reach Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, and SeaWorld in a short drive, and LEGOLAND Florida sits a bit farther south, which means entertainment is never far away. Closer to home, ChampionsGate's golf courses and the Omni resort bring dining, recreation, and resort amenities into the community, while Posner Park and the U.S. 27 corridor handle everyday retail and dining. Wallaby Ranch offers hang-gliding for the adventurous, and a Cinepolis IMAX theater provides a local moviegoing option. The city retains a quieter, small-town rhythm in its historic center, giving residents a calm contrast to the tourism energy a few exits up the interstate.

Davenport is served by Polk County Public Schools, one of Florida's larger districts. Local campuses include Davenport Elementary School and Davenport High School, along with newer schools in the surrounding area such as Bella Citta (PK–8) and Citrus Ridge: A Civics Academy, which serve the fast-growing resort-corridor neighborhoods. The district offers a range of magnet and choice programs across Polk County, and several private and charter options operate in the broader Four Corners area. Because school assignments in this corner of the county can vary by address — and because the area's residential growth has produced multiple new campuses in recent years — families should confirm their specific zoned schools directly with the district.

Davenport's transportation story is built around the intersection of Interstate 4 and U.S. Highway 27, which gives the city direct connections to Orlando to the northeast and to Polk County communities to the south. Walt Disney World is roughly 17 miles away, reachable in about 15 to 30 minutes depending on traffic, and Universal Orlando and SeaWorld are a bit farther up the I-4 corridor. I-4 through this stretch is a major tourist route and can be heavily congested during rush hour and weekend travel times, so many residents learn the back-road alternatives via U.S. 27, State Road 33, and State Road 528. For air travel, Orlando International Airport is the primary gateway, while smaller airports in the Lakeland and Kissimmee area serve general aviation and some regional traffic.

Recreation in Davenport runs the gamut from championship golf to theme-park days. ChampionsGate is home to two 18-hole golf courses designed by Greg Norman and anchored by the Omni Orlando Resort, giving residents and guests resort-style pools, dining, and spa facilities close to home. A short drive opens up Walt Disney World's four parks, Universal Studios, SeaWorld, and LEGOLAND Florida. For a change of pace, Wallaby Ranch offers hang-gliding, and the region's lakes support boating and fishing. Posner Park provides shopping and a Cinepolis IMAX theater. The proximity to the theme-park corridor means entertainment options are essentially year-round, while the city's own parks and the quieter Polk County countryside offer a slower counterpoint.