Oroville's housing stock is modest and small-town, with older single-family homes in the in-town grid and a mix of mobile and manufactured homes common in the region. In recent years, vacation cottage developments have appeared near Lake Osoyoos, catering to seasonal and second-home buyers drawn to the water. Beyond the limits, rural acreage, orchards, and homesites spread through the valley and highlands. The market is generally affordable, reflecting the town's remote location and agricultural economy.

Oroville is a compact town laid out along the Okanogan River and U.S. Highway 97, with an older in-town core of homes, churches, and small businesses near the riverfront and the highway. Residential streets extend toward the surrounding orchards and the shores of Lake Osoyoos, where newer vacation cottages and lake-area properties have been developed. Rural roads lead to scattered homesites and farmsteads in the surrounding Okanogan Highlands.

Life in Oroville is quiet, outdoors-oriented, and tied to the rhythms of agriculture and the border. Residents boat and fish on Lake Osoyoos and the Okanogan River, tend orchards and gardens, and gather for community events and school activities. The town's position on Highway 97 brings a steady flow of cross-border travelers, while the surrounding vineyards and orchards give the valley a pastoral character. It is a low-key, close-knit community in a scenic, sparsely populated region.

Public education in Oroville is provided by the Oroville School District, which serves students in the town and surrounding area from elementary through high school. The district's small size keeps schools closely tied to the community, and athletics and extracurricular activities are central to local life. For higher education and specialized programs, residents look to larger centers in Omak, Wenatchee, and the broader Okanogan Valley and Canadian Okanagan region.

Oroville sits on U.S. Highway 97, the main north-south route through the Okanogan Valley, and is home to a 24-hour border crossing into Osoyoos, British Columbia, about two and a half miles north. The highway connects the town south to Omak, Wenatchee, and the rest of north-central Washington, and north to Penticton and the Okanagan Valley. The town's remote location makes the highway its lifeline, carrying both local agricultural traffic and cross-border travelers.

Recreation in Oroville centers on water and the surrounding highlands. Lake Osoyoos, which straddles the international border, offers boating, fishing, swimming, and beach access, while the Okanogan and Similkameen rivers add further fishing and paddling opportunities. The Okanogan Highlands provide hiking, hunting, and wildlife viewing, and the area's orchards and vineyards draw seasonal visitors. Nearby state and provincial parks on both sides of the border extend the outdoor options in summer and winter.