Housing in Descanso is distinctly rural and mountain-oriented. The community consists of single-family homes on wooded parcels, ranging from modest cabins and older ranch homes to larger custom properties on multi-acre lots. Density is low, and many homes sit among oaks and pines with mountain views. There is little formal subdivision development, and the housing stock reflects the backcountry character of southeastern San Diego County. Buyers are typically drawn by the space, privacy, and access to forest recreation rather than by urban amenities, and the market retains a quiet, land-oriented feel rather than a suburban one.

Life in Descanso revolves around the outdoors and the quiet of the high country. The community's name, Spanish for "rest," suits its character: a low-density settlement of homes set among pines and oaks, where residents value space, clean air, and direct access to public lands. Weekends often involve hiking, camping, or a trip to nearby Lake Cuyamaca, and the surrounding national forest is effectively an extension of the backyard. The small school and a few local businesses anchor daily life, while Alpine and the larger San Diego area provide shopping and services. It is a lifestyle built on the land rather than suburban convenience.

Descanso is served by the Mountain Empire Unified School District, which covers the rural and mountain communities of southeastern San Diego County. Descanso Elementary School is located within the community, giving local children a neighborhood school through the elementary grades. Students continue to Mountain Empire Junior High and Mountain Empire High School in the surrounding district. The district's schools are small and closely tied to the backcountry communities they serve. For higher education, Cuyamaca College in the nearby community of Rancho San Diego and other San Diego County institutions are within reach.

Descanso is reached by State Route 79, which runs north–south through the Cuyamaca Mountains and connects to Interstate 8 at the town of Alpine to the west. From Alpine, Interstate 8 leads roughly 40 miles west to downtown San Diego, making Descanso accessible to the city while remaining firmly in the backcountry. The community's mountain roads are scenic and winding, and transportation is entirely automobile-based. The nearest regional services, shopping, and employment are in Alpine and the East County communities of San Diego, with the forest and state park roads providing access to the surrounding recreation lands.

Descanso is surrounded by some of the finest outdoor recreation in San Diego County. The Cleveland National Forest's Descanso Ranger District encompasses the mountains around the community, offering hiking, camping, and forest access, while Cuyamaca Rancho State Park preserves nearby meadows and oak woodlands. Lake Cuyamaca provides fishing, boating, and lakeside camping, and the Pacific Crest Trail passes through the region. The high-country setting supports year-round outdoor pursuits, from wildflower walks to forest drives. Descanso's position at the edge of the backcountry makes it a natural base for exploring the mountains of southeastern San Diego County.