Dewey's housing stock reflects its history as an established northeastern Oklahoma town. The city offers a mix of older, smaller single-family homes in its central neighborhoods, many from the early-to-mid 20th century, along with ranch-style houses and some newer construction on its edges. Lots are typically conventional in-town parcels with mature trees, and the historic downtown area includes some vintage homes within walking distance of Main Street. Compared with Bartlesville, Dewey provides a more compact, small-town housing market, while the broader Washington County area offers rural acreage for buyers who want more space within a short drive of town.

Dewey is a compact city of about 3,400 people, and its neighborhoods radiate from a traditional downtown. The historic core along Main Street and Don Tyler Avenue holds the city's museums, antique shops, and early commercial buildings, with older residential streets just beyond. Single-family neighborhoods of mid-century and ranch-style homes extend outward, and the edges of the city give way to the open countryside of Washington County. Because Dewey sits directly north of Bartlesville, the two communities run nearly together, and residents commonly treat the pair as a single local area for shopping, schools, and employment.

Dewey offers a small-town Green Country lifestyle with a strong sense of its own history. The downtown's antique and specialty shops, an old-fashioned soda fountain, and a local brewery give the city a walkable, community-oriented core, while the Tom Mix Museum and Dewey Hotel Museum anchor its cultural identity. The legacy of the Dewey Roundup rodeo and the city's ranching and Western heritage remain points of local pride. Residents benefit from Bartlesville's larger array of restaurants, employers, and cultural institutions just minutes away, giving Dewey a quiet residential base with easy access to the amenities of its larger neighbor.

Dewey is served by Dewey Public Schools, also known as Dewey ISD 7, an independent district that operates three schools serving roughly 1,200 students from pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade. The district includes Dewey Elementary School and Dewey High School, giving local families a complete K-12 pathway within the city. The district is smaller and more self-contained than the neighboring Bartlesville system, which contributes to Dewey's close-knit, hometown school identity. For higher education, Oklahoma Wesleyan University in Bartlesville and regional campuses are within easy commuting distance.

Dewey sits along the U.S. Highway 75 corridor, the main route north from Tulsa toward the Kansas border, placing the city on a direct highway link to Bartlesville and the broader region. The drive to Bartlesville takes only a few minutes, and Tulsa is about 49 miles to the south. The Cimarron Public Transit System provides demand-response transportation serving Dewey and surrounding communities, supplementing personal vehicle travel. For longer trips, Tulsa International Airport is the nearest major commercial airport, reached via Highway 75, while Bartlesville's regional airport offers general aviation access nearby.

Dewey's recreation is closely tied to its heritage attractions. The Tom Mix Museum and Dewey Hotel Museum offer a look at the city's silent-film and pioneer past, and Prairie Song Pioneer Village adds a living-history setting. The downtown's antique shops and soda fountain provide a slower-paced way to spend an afternoon, and the legacy of the Dewey Roundup rodeo remains a celebrated part of local culture. Nearby, Bartlesville adds parks, the Pathfinder Parkway trail system, and the Price Tower, while Washington County's lakes and the Osage Hills offer fishing, hiking, and outdoor recreation within a short drive.