Economic Development

Up-to-date economic, demographic data on Farmington is available at MetroHartford Alliance and the Connecticut Economic Resource Center.

• About Farmington
• Business Climate
• Schools
• Colleges
• Government
• Housing
• Major Employers

About Farmington

Farmington (pop. 25,000) sits 10 miles west of Hartford at the hub of major I-84 interchanges, 20 miles south of Bradley International Airport and 2-hours by car from NYC and Boston. A bedroom community for Hartford decision makers with a strong commercial base in the Hartford Metro area, Farmington is an ideal site for central CT business & industry. The Town has retained its distinct character through progressive land use planning, maintenance of its historic districts and by serving its business community.

Business Climate

Farmington’s diverse grand-list allows for a commercial mill rate among the lowest 22% in Connecticut. The Town offers incentives, including property tax abatement, to new or expanding businesses. A stable, highly educated workforce, Blue Ribbon schools, low taxes, proximity to major regional highways and myriad recreational opportunities make the Town of Farmington an ideal place to do business.

Schools

Farmington’s Public Schools are rooted in excellence, recognized as Blue Ribbon Schools by the U.S. Dept. of Education. Newsweek Magazine has cited Farmington High School as one of the top 100 high schools in the country. Over 90% of Farmington graduates go on to two- or four-year colleges, and in 2007, 62% of the graduating class took AP Courses, with 76% of AP Test takers scored 3 or higher. Check out our Farmington schools information for comprehensive comparable details.

Farmington is also home to the prestigious Miss Porter’s School, a day and boarding school for girls in grades 9 through 12. The school counts among its alumni the likes of Suzannah Grant Henrickson (1980), Eliza Kimball (1969), and Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis (1947).

Colleges

Farmington is home to both the University of Connecticut Health Center and Tunxis Community College.

University of Connecticut Health Center offers a range of doctoral and master programs, including biomedical science and public health. Faculty expertise includes neuroscience, molecular biology, molecular pharmacology, biochemistry, cell physiology, toxicology, stem cells, and endocrinology, among other fields.

Tunxis Community College serves nearly 7,000 full and part-time students each semester enrolled in credit and continuing education classes. Technical (two-year) degrees from Tunxis include Accounting, Computer Programming, Engineering, Graphic Design Industrial Art and Illustration, and Information Systems & Business Data.

As a state, Connecticut enjoys one of the highest densities of higher education in the nation. Farmington is less than an hour’s drive from many four-year schools including Yale University, the University of Connecticut, Wesleyan University, Trinity University, Charter Oak State College, and Central & Southern Connecticut State Universities.

Connecticut also enjoys a strong network of two-year, community and technical trades colleges. Naugatuck Valley, Middlesex, Gateway, Capital and Manchester Community Colleges are all within a 40-mile radius of Farmington.

Government

Farmington is administered under the Council-Manager form of government. The Town Manager serves as full-time Chief Executive and is aided by an Assistant Town Manager. Finances are under the control of Town Manager, the Town Council, and the Finance Director. The seven-member council, the Town's legislative body, is elected biennially for a term of two years and serves without compensation. The Town Charter, which is the primary organizational document, was first adopted in 1947 and last was revised December 4, 2003. The Strategic Plan and the Plan of Conservation and Development are up to date and guide land use and business development in Farmington.

Housing

Farmington offers a diverse housing-stock, from a broad choice of apartments and condominiums to an array of single family homes. There are housing options for all budgets and tastes. In 2006, for example, over 30% of homes sold in Farmington were sold for between $200,000 and $299,000.

Major Employers

The University of Connecticut Health Center is the Town’s largest employer and a leading academic research institution in CT. The Center conducts $90+ million in research annually and in 2007 received $12 million from the state to develop a Stem Cell Research Center. ConnectiCare was ranked #6 on the U.S. News and World Report/NCQA list of America’s Best Health Plans (2006), and the only for-profit health plan ranked in the top 10. TRUMPF is the largest manufacturer of fabricating machinery in the U.S. Headquartered in Farmington, Otis Elevator is the world’s leading manufacturer, installer and maintainer of elevators, escalators and moving walkways.