It is a mixture of residential and industrial zoning, with an increase in commercial usage towards the centre of Maidstone, and more arable use on the outskirts.

[2] Tovil has a history of paper mills on the Loose Stream near the River Medway, which ceased operation in the 1980s.

These and other mills located along the Loose Stream which flows through Tovil were formerly used for fulling, corn and in one case gunpowder.

Alabaster Passmore had an important printing works in Tovil and there were other small industries and a railway siding.

Tovil is in the South ward of Maidstone Borough Council, represented as of 2020 by three Liberal Democrat councillors.