Rossville's housing stock is a mix of early- and mid-20th-century single-family homes, many modest in scale and set on small city lots, reflecting the community's working-class, industrial-era growth. Bungalows, cottages, and older brick and frame houses predominate in the established neighborhoods closest to the Tennessee line, with some newer and larger homes on the outer edges and toward Missionary Ridge. As part of the Chattanooga metropolitan area, Rossville offers a housing market oriented to households seeking Georgia-side living with proximity to Tennessee employment, without the density of Chattanooga's in-town neighborhoods.

Rossville is organized more by its road corridors and landmarks than by large named subdivisions. The historic core lies along the main routes toward Chattanooga, near the John Ross House and the older commercial district. Missionary Ridge rises along the community's east side and carries a residential character with Civil War monuments, while the areas near Fort Oglethorpe to the west and Chattanooga Valley to the south provide nearby single-family neighborhoods served by the same Walker County school network. Communities such as Flintstone, Fairview, Chickamauga, and Lookout Mountain form a broader ring of northwest Georgia suburbs around Chattanooga.

Rossville's lifestyle is defined by its twin identity as a Georgia town and a Chattanooga neighbor. Day-to-day amenities such as dining, shopping, and entertainment are concentrated a short drive away in Chattanooga, while Rossville itself retains a quieter, small-city pace. Regional draws include Lake Winnepesaukah, a long-running amusement park with a water park, and the scenic overlooks of Rock City Gardens and Lookout Mountain. The Chickamauga & Chattanooga National Military Park provides history and open space, and the city's own parks, such as Adventure Acres, serve family recreation close to home.

Public education in Rossville is provided by Walker County Schools, which operates elementary, middle, and high schools in and around the city, including Rossville Middle School and Ridgeland High School. Ridgeland High draws students from Rossville and surrounding communities including Flintstone, Lookout Mountain, Fairview, and Chickamauga, and sits near the Chickamauga-Chattanooga National Military Park. Because Rossville borders Tennessee, some families also weigh nearby Hamilton County, Tennessee, schools and other options, but most Rossville students attend the Walker County system.

Rossville is woven into Chattanooga's transportation network. U.S. Route 27, a major four-lane corridor, runs along the community's edge and carries traffic toward downtown Chattanooga and, to the south, toward LaFayette and Rome, Georgia. Interstate 24 and Interstate 75 are reached via Chattanooga within a few miles, connecting Rossville to Atlanta, Knoxville, and Nashville. The Georgia-Tennessee border runs through the built-up area, so many residents cross it daily for work. Public transit is limited, and most commuting is by car, with downtown Chattanooga roughly ten minutes away.

Rossville sits within a short drive of some of the region's best-known recreation. Lake Winnepesaukah, known locally as Lake Winnie, is a classic amusement park and water park just outside the city, and Rock City Gardens offers panoramic views from Lookout Mountain. The Chickamauga & Chattanooga National Military Park preserves Civil War battlefields with walking and driving tours and monuments, including along Missionary Ridge. The city's Adventure Acres provides a playground and splash pad for local families, and the Tennessee River and downtown Chattanooga's riverfront add broader outdoor options.