Written by Stephen Ondich
Apartments for rent in Farmington, Maine are notoriously scarce in 2024.
Seeking low cost places to live near the magnificent historical downtown Farmington neighborhood and UMF, many would-be renters expand their housing search radius significantly outside of downtown Farmington.
However, while neighboring communities such as Farmington Falls, West Farmington, Wilton, Industry, Chesterfield, New Vineyard, Livermore Falls, Jay offer lower average per square foot leasing rates, there are downsides.
Franklin County covers a large area, 1743 square miles, to be exact. Accordingly, the long driving distances to University of Maine Farmington (UMF) campus, community events, Farmington Village, Reny’s, and other shopping, dining are retail locations within Farmington.
Scanning Craigslist is probably not the best option for finding long term housing in Farmington. Everyone does that first.
In this article, we share tips to give you more local resources to find rooms, housing or living space close to UMF.
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7 Sources for Farmington Apartment Vacancies
In my experience, here are the 6 best places to look when searching for a place to live in downtown Farmington, Maine:
1. Chapman Family Rentals: Bonnie Chapman has been a fixture of the UMF community since 1983. Her family business hosts rental properties around the college campus and surrounding areas. Chapman specializes in 1-4 unit homes, smaller apartment buildings, and individual rooms.
Accordingly, they are the go-to for many UM Farmington students when they seek off-campus living space.
Different homes have different vibes, even within the Farmington Village. Since Bonnie and her family are very involved in the management, they can help fit tenants in the right environment.
However, like many of the UMF area management companies, Chapman’s portfolio of rental homes is mostly booked as of Summer 2024.
You can check buildings and current vacancies online at Chapman Family Rentals.
* Full disclosure, my daughter was a tenant of Bonnie. Her experience with Bonnie’s company was excellent. She really appreciates tenants who respect her properties.
2. Foothills Management:
Foothills Management is probably the largest locally owned property management company in Farmington. They manage a large portfolio of properties with an emphasis on the UMF / downtown area.
Fortunately for them (unfortunately for potential renters) their buildings are mostly occupied as of Spring 2024. However, they have a direct link to vacancies on their website that is worth checking regularly. You can find Foothill’s list of available apartments here.
However, in my experience new Farmington vacancies appear & disappear quickly. Sometimes this happens before websites are even updated at all.
Thus, don’t just passively check the website. Make contact with a person at Foothills directly. Preferably go in person or at least engage with someone by phone. If they like you and you’re in the right place at the right time you may secure one of those momentary vacancies.
3. ForRent, ApartmentGuide, ApartmentFinder. These websites show up when searching for”Farmington Apartments” on Google or Bing.
These are definitely worth a gander but are not ideal for searching in smaller markets like Farmington, in my opinion. Unlike the local Farmington-based management companies, these have no local connection to the community and the information presented often reflects that.
Algorithm updates (and possibly deference to advertisers) have pushed large comprehensive database sites to the top of localized search results.
Thus, they are large databases of properties for rent around the US. Mot a particularly great local resource.
Often information may be curated from other sites at the expense of accuracy and/or timeliness.
I wouldn’t spend much time on these sites.
4. UMF Housing. Obviously, this option is only for students enrolled at UMF. However, on-campus housing is a serious draw even though students who have only lived at home before may not fully appreciate it.
Students at UMF often start looking to move off-campus after freshman year. Do not squander your exclusive low-cost housing in search of fun or independence until you understand how tight the Farmington housing market actually is in 2024.
Despite the gripes associated with on-campus housing, it has some amazing benefits.
First, it is inexpensive and often subsidized for students. Second, it is at the heart of downtown Farmington. Thus, students are at the epicenter of town, events and city resources. Third, the central location means you can live there without owning a car, Fourth, UMF campus housing is only for students. Therefore, other apartment seekers cannot compete with you for space. I guarantee, there are many young couples and families who would love to move into Scott Hall, if it was available to them.
5. Farmington Facebook Groups
Join facebook groups like Farmington Maine Area: News & Community, Farmington, Maine Daily or Franklin County Maine News, etc. Often, you can get a sense for landlords who regularly post vacancies by searching “for rent” or “vacancy” within the group. Introduce yourself to that person now. Don’t wait for them to post a new vacancy. unless you want to be buried in a sea of inquiries!
Also, whenever joining a group on Facebook or Reddit, participate in other people’s threads for a while before starting your own. Jumping into a new group and asking for a place to live is unlikely to result in success. Add value to the group before asking for their help.
6, AirBnB or VRBO
Typically, these sites are used for short term rentals – which are currently the scourge of Farmington’s long-term housing seekers.
However, I would look through all of Farmington’s airbnb listings to identify any that aren’t being rented out much. Perhaps the owner would be interested in a longer-term arrangement? The AirBnb app allows you to directly message the homeowner. Thus, finding out would not take much effort. Also, you’re unlikely to face much competition. All you’d need is one “Well… what did you have in mind…?” to start the conversation.
7. The Daily Bulldog: The Daily Bulldog is a local news source for Franklin County. Their website has a classified housing section that is worth keeping an eye on.
Additionally, since it is locally operated, the DB may give you a heads up on new residential construction projects and renovations.
Farmington Maine: Why Housing is Scarce
Farmington is a desirable picturesque college town nestled in the heart of Franklin County Maine. However, it grapples with a pressing issue: the scarcity of affordable housing.
Limited housing results from a confluence of economic, demographic, and policy factors.
Affordable housing is a critical issue in Maine. Here are the reasons behind the scarcity of lower income housing :
1. Poverty: Farmington’s socio-economic landscape significantly influences the availability of affordable housing. With approximately 25% of Farmington residents living below the poverty line, many face a pronounced financial strain. These economic hardships directly impact the demand for housing, particularly among low-income individuals and families. Moreover, a substantial proportion of Franklin County households subsist on an annual income of less than $20,000, rendering market-rate housing unattainable for many. As a result, the cycle continues, exacerbating the housing crisis.
2. Limited Availability of Affordable Units: Despite Farmington’s modest housing stock—comprising approximately 1,855 units, of which 62% are rental homes—the supply of affordable housing remains insufficient. The rental vacancy rate stands at a mere 3%, underscoring the high demand and fierce competition for available units. When vacancies are scarce, landlords bump rents, further straining affordability. Consequently, prospective renters struggle to securing suitable housing within their budget.
3. Affordability Gap: The affordability gap looms large in Farmington. The median renter income falls well short of covering the cost of an average two-bedroom downtown Farmington apartment.
Federal grants have been earmarked for the creation of new affordable housing options, yet where are the new houses and apartment complexes?
4. Buying in Farmington- The Price Tag Dilemma: If you want buy a house, buckle up, buttercup. Home prices are trending up.
First-time buyers have access to Federal programs to keep the down payment low. However, homes that need work or are older often do not qualify. Homes that qualify are often at the high end of the price spectrum which rules out many first time buyers.
Interest rates are close to 20 year highs. Thus, unless you are in a position to pay with cash, traditional mortgage financing options are expensive. This makes renting a more appealing option for many.
Renting in Farmington
Renting in downtown Farmington is like playing musical chairs with a lot of missing seats. Unfortunately, there are a lot more people seeking housing than offering it.
Accordingly, rental units in prime downtown areas withing walking distance of U of M command high monthly rents.
This is especially true when it comes to studio, 1 bedroom and 2 bedroom units.
Why do people want to live in Downtown Farmington?
1. Time Travel Vibes: Imagine strolling down Main Street, and suddenly, you’re in a sepia-toned postcard.
Visit the remarkably intact & artifact-filled home of world famous opera singer and pioneer girl boss Lillian Nordica, a proud Farmington native. Technically not downtown…but close!
The historic buildings here wear their age like a badge of honor. early 1900’s streets, window shutters with stories, and that cozy feeling—it’s like a warm hug from the past.
2. Quirky and Local: Farmington’s downtown isn’t about cookie-cutter chains. Instead, it has the indie spirit. Java Joe’s: a café where the barista knows your coffee order by heart, Twice Sold Tales, a used bookstore with creaky wooden floors, and Reny’s one of 17 store s in the iconic Maine chain.
3. Nature’s Playground: Farmington isn’t just about old Victorian homes. It’s the gateway to adventure. Within a stone’s throw, you’ve got hiking trails that lead to secret waterfalls, fishing spots, parks with disk golf and ski resorts.