Housing in Gordon reflects its history as a small Texas crossroads town. The city offers a mix of older single-family homes near the original townsite, along with more recent construction and larger lots on the edges. The surrounding Palo Pinto County landscape provides ranch land and rural acreage for buyers seeking space and a working-country lifestyle. As a small city on Interstate 20, Gordon appeals to those looking for a low-density, small-town setting within reach of the metroplex.

Gordon is compact enough that its residential areas function as a single community rather than distinct districts. The original townsite contains the city's older homes, school, and civic buildings, while newer homes have filled in around the edges. The wider area consists of cattle ranches, oil fields, and scattered rural properties across Palo Pinto County. The town's location along Interstate 20 keeps it connected to larger communities while retaining its own distinct identity.

Life in Gordon is shaped by its small-town scale and the ranching and oil economy of Palo Pinto County. Community activity revolves around the school, local churches, and small businesses, with a strong tradition of support for Gordon ISD and its athletics. Larger shopping, dining, and employment are available in Weatherford, Mineral Wells, and the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex along Interstate 20. Residents value the quiet, close-knit atmosphere and the rural character of the surrounding countryside.

Gordon is served by the Gordon Independent School District, a small rural district with a single campus and roughly 215 students. The district provides education from the elementary grades through high school and is a central institution in the community, known for strong local support of academics and athletics. Its small size fosters close relationships among students and staff, drawing families who value a tight-knit educational environment.

Gordon sits directly on Interstate 20, one of Texas's principal east-west highways, placing it about 60 miles west of Fort Worth. This location gives residents a direct route to the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex to the east and to the smaller cities of West Texas to the west. Daily travel is primarily by automobile, with the interstate serving as the main regional connection for commuting, shopping, and services.

Recreation in Gordon is rooted in the Palo Pinto County countryside. Hunting, fishing, and outdoor pursuits are common across the surrounding ranchland, and Possum Kingdom Lake, a major reservoir within the county, offers boating, fishing, and camping a short drive to the northwest. School athletics and community events anchor local life, while the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex provides larger entertainment and cultural amenities along Interstate 20.