Housing in Touchet consists largely of single-family homes on generous lots, with older farmhouses and modest ranch-style residences alongside a scattering of newer construction. Rural properties with acreage, outbuildings, and space for small-scale farming or horses are common in the surrounding valley. The community is low-density and spread out, reflecting its agricultural setting. Buyers are typically drawn by the combination of rural space, larger lots, and small-town living within reach of Walla Walla.

Touchet is a compact community rather than a collection of subdivisions. Homes cluster near the Touchet River and the school, with farmsteads spreading across the surrounding valley. The community's identity is defined by its agricultural surroundings rather than by formal neighborhoods. Walla Walla, about 15 miles to the east, serves as the regional center for commerce and services, while the smaller towns of the valley maintain their own distinct, farm-centered characters.

Life in Touchet follows the rhythms of the farm calendar. Wheat, orchard, and vineyard work shape the local economy, and community life centers on the school, churches, and agricultural events. The Walla Walla Valley's wine country and food scene are a short drive away, adding a sophisticated layer to an otherwise rural lifestyle. Residents value open space, self-reliance, and a pace of life that has changed little over the decades.

Touchet is served by the Touchet School District, a small district that operates a combined elementary and secondary program within the community. Small enrollments mean a close-knit educational environment typical of rural Washington. For higher education, residents are within reach of Walla Walla Community College and Whitman College in Walla Walla, as well as the universities and colleges of the Tri-Cities and Spokane regions.

Touchet lies along U.S. Route 12, which connects the community to Walla Walla to the east and the Tri-Cities to the west. Walla Walla is about 15 miles away, while the Tri-Cities of Kennewick, Pasco, and Richland are roughly a half-hour to the west. Walla Walla Regional Airport and the Tri-Cities Airport serve the region. Like most of rural eastern Washington, Touchet is automobile-dependent, with the highway network linking farms and small towns.

Recreation in Touchet centers on the outdoors. Lewis and Clark Trail State Park offers riverside trails, fishing, and picnic areas along the Touchet River, commemorating the expedition's passage through the region. Hunting, fishing, and boating on the Columbia and Snake rivers are within a short drive. The Walla Walla Valley's wineries, the Blue Mountains to the east, and the Palouse country nearby provide additional outlets for hiking, wine touring, and outdoor recreation.