Cortez's housing is dominated by historic, small-scale homes that reflect the village's fishing heritage. The community holds a collection of older cottages, many from the early twentieth century, set close together along narrow streets near the waterfront, along with some newer infill and elevated coastal construction. The National Register-listed historic district helps preserve the village's scale and character, keeping it distinct from the resort condominiums of Anna Maria Island and Bradenton Beach. Waterfront and canal-front properties carry particular appeal, and the overall housing stock is far more modest and authentic than the surrounding tourism market. Buyers are typically drawn by Old Florida character, boating access, and proximity to the Gulf beaches.

Cortez is a compact, single village rather than a set of named subdivisions. Its historic core clusters along the waterfront and the few streets that make up the National Register historic district, with cottages, fish houses, and the maritime museum within easy walking distance of one another. The village fronts Sarasota Bay and sits at the foot of the Cortez Bridge, making Anna Maria Island's beaches and Bradenton Beach directly accessible. To the east, Cortez Road connects the village to Bradenton and the mainland's commercial corridors. The neighborhood's identity comes entirely from its waterfront, its fishing fleet, and its preserved historic fabric rather than from conventional residential development.

Life in Cortez is shaped by the water and the fishing industry that built the village. Commercial boats still work from the waterfront, and residents live alongside a daily rhythm of docks, nets, and fresh seafood. The village's waterfront restaurants are local gathering places where diners eat outdoors within sight of the bay. The annual Cortez Commercial Fishing Festival, walking tours, and the Florida Maritime Museum keep the community's heritage central to its identity. Just across the Cortez Bridge, Anna Maria Island offers Gulf beaches, boutiques, and a laid-back island atmosphere, while Bradenton provides mainland services. The result is an unhurried, authentic coastal lifestyle increasingly rare on Florida's developed Gulf shore.

Cortez is served by the School District of Manatee County, which operates public schools across the county, including the Bradenton area and Anna Maria Island communities. Students in Cortez attend Manatee County schools for elementary, middle, and high school, with busing and enrollment following the county's zoning patterns. The district is one of Florida's larger countywide systems and offers a range of programs alongside the area's private school options. Cortez's location keeps school campuses in Bradenton and the surrounding coastal communities within a short drive, balancing the village's small, historic character with access to the county's broader educational resources.

Cortez sits at the western end of Cortez Road, the main artery linking the village to Bradenton and the region's highway network, including U.S. Route 41. The Cortez Bridge spans the village's peninsula to Bradenton Beach on Anna Maria Island, making the island's seven miles of Gulf shoreline directly reachable. The Sarasota–Bradenton area's road system connects Cortez to Sarasota to the south and the Tampa Bay region to the north, with the Sarasota–Bradenton International Airport a short drive away. Travel is car-based, and the village's small, walkable waterfront contrasts with the highway-oriented development of the surrounding mainland.

Recreation in Cortez begins with the water. Charter fishing and boating operate from the village's marinas, and the surrounding Sarasota Bay supports kayaking, paddleboarding, and wildlife viewing. The Florida Maritime Museum and the Cortez Village walking tour offer a cultural counterpoint, while the annual Cortez Commercial Fishing Festival draws visitors to the working waterfront. Across the Cortez Bridge, Anna Maria Island's Gulf beaches — including nearby Cortez Beach on Bradenton Beach — provide swimming, shelling, and sunsets. The combination of an authentic fishing harbor and immediate access to one of Florida's most beloved barrier islands defines the area's recreational appeal.