Mojave's housing stock is modest and desert-oriented, with a mix of older single-family homes and rental properties across a compact street grid laid out by the railroad in the 1870s. The community has a suburban-rural feel, and many residents rent rather than own. Housing clusters near the town center and along the highway corridors, with larger, more rural parcels available on the surrounding desert fringe for those seeking space and distance.

Mojave is small enough that it functions as one community rather than a set of sharply divided neighborhoods. The original railroad-era street grid forms the historic core, with residential blocks spreading outward toward State Routes 14 and 58. Areas such as the Sabovich-Roper neighborhood are noted locally for their quiet, well-kept character and convenient freeway access. The surrounding desert offers scattered acreage and a more rural setting just beyond the town.

Mojave has the feel of a working high-desert town rather than a resort or commuter suburb. Its identity is shaped by the rail corridor, the air and space port, and the wind-energy and aerospace industries that employ many residents. Life is quiet and unpretentious, with a small commercial core, local schools, and wide desert skies. Residents value the open space and lower-density setting, while accepting the trade-offs of a remote location far from the amenities of larger Kern County cities.

Mojave's public schools are part of the Mojave Unified School District, which operates six schools and enrolls roughly 2,800 students, serving both Mojave and the neighboring community of California City. The district provides kindergarten through twelfth grade across a sparsely populated corner of eastern Kern County. Given the area's remote location, the district also plays a central role in community life, with families often traveling between Mojave and California City for school activities.

Mojave sits at a strategic desert crossroads. State Route 14 and State Route 58 meet near town, carrying traffic between the Antelope Valley, Bakersfield, and points north, while the Union Pacific railroad still runs through the community that the Southern Pacific built. Bakersfield is about 50 miles northwest and Los Angeles roughly 100 miles south, making the town a waypoint on one of the region's key freight and travel corridors. The Mojave Air and Space Port adds a significant aviation dimension to local transportation.

The high desert is Mojave's playground. The Pacific Crest Trail passes near the community, and the Tehachapi Mountains to the west offer hiking, climbing, and sweeping views over the valley, with the region's vast wind farms visible from State Route 58. The desert itself invites off-road exploration, stargazing, and seasonal wildflower viewing. Aviation enthusiasts are drawn to the air and space port and its long history of flight testing, adding an unusual recreational and cultural draw to the area.