Millen's housing stock reflects a small rural county seat: older, often historic single-family homes in the established in-town blocks near downtown and the railroad, a mix of mid-century and newer ranch-style houses, and rural acreage on the outskirts suited to farming or forestry. Lot sizes are generally generous, and the surrounding countryside offers manufactured and farm homesteads as well as cleared agricultural tracts. The market is value-oriented compared with Georgia's larger metros, and inventory leans toward modest single-family homes rather than large planned subdivisions. Buyers seeking land, affordability, or a quieter small-town setting will find more of the market defined by those qualities than by new construction volume.

Millen's residential pattern follows the town's railroad layout, with older homes clustered around downtown and the courthouse and newer development spreading outward along the main roads. Rather than large named subdivisions, the town is organized as a traditional Southern county seat, with tree-shaded in-town streets, established residential blocks, and a transition to farmland and timberland at the edges. U.S. Route 25 serves as the commercial spine, and the rail corridor running through the center of town remains a defining feature of the streetscape. Buyers generally choose between in-town walkability to services and larger rural parcels a short drive from the county seat.

Millen offers a classic small-town Southern lifestyle centered on the county seat's courthouse, churches, and community institutions. Daily life is unhurried, with agriculture and forestry shaping the rhythm of the surrounding countryside and the railroad still running through the middle of town. Residents gather for local school sports, community events, and recreation at Magnolia Springs State Park, which functions as the town's natural and historical centerpiece. Shopping and services are modest and concentrated downtown, while larger retail, medical, and cultural options require a drive to Augusta or Statesboro. The community is close-knit and affordable in character, appealing to those who value rural space, local history, and a slower pace.

Millen is served by the Jenkins County School District, a public school system based in the city. The district operates elementary, middle, and high school campuses that serve students across the county, keeping education centralized in Millen as the county seat. Enrollment is relatively small—roughly 1,100 to 1,700 students depending on the grade configuration counted—which allows for a close-knit, community-oriented school environment. Families moving to the area should be aware that the district covers the entire county, meaning some students commute from outlying rural areas, and that higher education and specialized programs generally require travel to Augusta, Statesboro, or beyond.

Millen sits along U.S. Route 25, a major north-south highway that links the town to Waynesboro and Augusta to the north and Statesboro to the south, with Augusta roughly an hour's drive away. The railroad that historically defined Millen remains an active freight corridor running through the center of town, and the town's layout reflects that rail heritage. As a small rural county seat, Millen has no public transit, and personal vehicles are essential; regional airports and larger medical and retail facilities are reached via Augusta or Savannah. Interstate access is available through connecting state routes toward I-20 and I-16, the area's principal interstate corridors.

Magnolia Springs State Park is the centerpiece of recreation in Millen. The park features a spring-fed lake for fishing and boating, a splash pad, campgrounds, picnic areas, and nature trails, alongside the preserved earthworks of the Civil War's Camp Lawton, making it both a natural and historical destination. The surrounding Jenkins County countryside offers hunting, fishing, and access to Georgia's pine and hardwood forests, which support the area's forestry economy and outdoor traditions. Millen's location about an hour south of Augusta also puts regional attractions, the Savannah River, and larger recreational venues within a day-trip distance for residents.