Gilchrist's housing stock reflects its history as a Gulf Coast resort and its recovery from Hurricane Ike. Much of the community consists of beach houses and stilted single-family homes built for coastal conditions, with many constructed or elevated since 2008. Properties range from modest fishing cottages to newer vacation rentals, and much of the area is used seasonally rather than as year-round housing. Compared with nearby Crystal Beach, Gilchrist remains quieter and less densely developed, appealing to buyers looking for direct beach and bay access at a slower pace.

Gilchrist is itself a small community within the broader Bolivar Peninsula census-designated place. To the west lie Crystal Beach, the peninsula's more developed beach community, and Port Bolivar, where the free ferry connects to Galveston. To the east, the tiny settlements of Caplen and High Island complete the peninsula. Within Gilchrist, homes are strung along State Highway 87 and the beachfront, with no formal subdivisions; the community's character comes from its unincorporated, spread-out coastal lots rather than planned neighborhoods.

Day-to-day life in Gilchrist is quiet and outdoorsy, centered on the beach and the water. Surf fishing along the Gulf, boating and wading in East Bay, and beach combing define the local rhythm, and the community empties out considerably outside the summer season. There is little commercial development within Gilchrist itself; residents rely on Crystal Beach and the drive or ferry to Galveston for groceries, dining, and services. The slower, self-sufficient pace is the primary draw for those who choose to live or keep a second home here.

Gilchrist is zoned to High Island Independent School District, a small Galveston County district that serves the peninsula communities of High Island, Caplen, and Gilchrist through a single campus, High Island School. Given the area's very small student population and largely seasonal housing, many households are part-time residents, and students who live here full-time attend the consolidated district. The district is assigned to Galveston College for postsecondary coursework, and Galveston and the mainland provide additional private and higher-education options.

Gilchrist sits on State Highway 87, which runs the length of the Bolivar Peninsula. The main link to Galveston is the free Bolivar Ferry from Port Bolivar, roughly 17 miles to the west; alternatively, State Highway 124 connects High Island north to Interstate 10 at Winnie for travel toward Beaumont and Houston. Galveston is about 30 miles from the peninsula communities, and Houston is reachable in roughly an hour and a half by car. The remote two-lane road network keeps traffic light outside peak beach weekends.

Recreation in Gilchrist revolves around fishing and the Gulf. Rollover Pass was historically among the region's most popular fishing spots before it was closed and filled, and surf and bay fishing remain the area's signature activities. The beach itself offers swimming, shelling, and bird watching, while nearby High Island is home to the renowned Smith Oaks and Boy Scout Woods bird sanctuaries, a spring migration destination. Bolivar Flats Shorebird Sanctuary, a Houston Audubon site of international importance, lies toward the western end of the peninsula.