How are homes heated in Rainbow City, AL?

Name: Heating fuel in Rainbow City, AL, 2020–2024
Creator: US Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

Electricity is the most common heating fuel in Rainbow City, used by 66.3% (±6.1 points) of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

31.1% heat with utility gas.

0.3% heat with fuel oil or kerosene.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Utility gas: 31.1% (±6.2 points)
Electricity: 66.3%
Fuel oil, kerosene: 0.3%

Heating fuel in Rainbow City

Occupied housing units by house heating fuel, 2020–2024
Fuel used most	Rainbow City	Etowah County	Alabama	United States
Utility gas	31.1% (±6.2 points)	34.1%	25.7%	46.5%
Fuel oil, kerosene, etc.	0.3% (±0.5 points)	0.3%	0.1%	3.9%
Electricity	66.3% (±6.1 points)	60.1%	67.4%	41.3%
Bottled or tank gas (propane)	1.6% (±1.3 points)	4.6%	5.3%	4.9%
Wood	0.4% (±0.5 points)	0.6%	0.7%	1.4%
Solar energy	0.0% (±1.0 points)	0.0%	0.0%	0.3%
Coal or coke	0.0% (±1.0 points)	0.0%	0.0%	0.1%
Other fuel	0.0% (±1.0 points)	0.1%	0.1%	0.5%
No fuel used	0.3% (±0.4 points)	0.2%	0.7%	1.2%

The survey asks which fuel is used most to heat the home, so a home with a heat pump and an oil backup is counted once, under the one it uses most.

In Rainbow City, the share of homes heating with fuel oil is not measurably different from Etowah County (0.3%).

It is not measurably different from Alabama (0.1%).

It is lower than the national figure (3.9%).

In Rainbow City, the share of homes heating with electricity is not measurably different from Etowah County (60.1%).

It is not measurably different from Alabama (67.4%).

It is higher than the national figure (41.3%).

Homes heated by electricity in places near Rainbow City

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Rainbow City
Place	Distance	Homes heated by electricity	Compared with this place
Rainbow City	—	66.3% (±6.1 points)	—
Attalla	4.5 mi	59.5% (±8.5 points)	Not measurably different
Southside	4.6 mi	55.5% (±6.6 points)	Lower
Steele	6.2 mi	65.9% (±11.7 points)	Not measurably different
Gadsden	6.6 mi	53.8% (±3.5 points)	Lower
Glencoe	8.7 mi	51.0% (±7.0 points)	Lower
Ridgeville	8.9 mi	60.6% (±30.0 points)	Not measurably different
Gallant	9.8 mi	48.2% (±24.2 points)	Not measurably different
Ohatchee	10 mi	73.9% (±10.0 points)	Not measurably different

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Southside, AL (55.5%), Gadsden, AL (53.8%), Glencoe, AL (51.0%).

Distance is measured in a straight line between the Census Bureau’s internal points for each place.

Homes heated by fuel oil across Etowah County, place by place

Rank	Place	Homes heated by fuel oil
1	Whitesboro	6.9% (±9.3 points)
2	Attalla	0.6% (±1.0 points)
3	Rainbow City	0.3% (±0.5 points)
4	Gadsden	0.2% (±0.2 points)
5 (tie)	Altoona	0.0% (±8.4 points)
5 (tie)	Glencoe	0.0% (±2.0 points)
5 (tie)	Hokes Bluff	0.0% (±2.1 points)
5 (tie)	Reece City	0.0% (±11.9 points)
5 (tie)	Ridgeville	0.0% (±40.5 points)

Showing 9 of 17 places in Etowah County, ranked from highest to lowest.

Survey years: 2020–2024 (American Community Survey 5-year estimates).

Margins of error are at the 90% confidence level.

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Questions about Rainbow City

What is the most common way to heat a home in Rainbow City?

Electricity is the most common heating fuel in Rainbow City, used by 66.3% of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

How many homes in Rainbow City heat with oil?

0.3% (±0.5 points) of occupied homes in Rainbow City use fuel oil or kerosene as their main heating fuel.

How many homes in Rainbow City have electric heat?

66.3% (±6.1 points) of occupied homes in Rainbow City heat mainly with electricity, which includes heat pumps.

Sources

Selected Housing Characteristics (DP04), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Rainbow City city, Alabama

To check these figures in the Census Bureau’s own API, request the variables below from the 2024 ACS 5-year data profile (acs/acs5/profile) for Rainbow City city, Alabama (place:63288, in state:01).

Each estimate (E or PE) has a margin of error beside it (M or PM).

The API needs a free key.

Request a Census API key.

DP04_0063PE, DP04_0063PM, DP04_0066PE, DP04_0066PM, DP04_0065PE, DP04_0065PM, DP04_0064PE, DP04_0064PM, DP04_0068PE, DP04_0068PM, DP04_0069PE, DP04_0069PM, DP04_0067PE, DP04_0067PM, DP04_0070PE, DP04_0070PM, DP04_0071PE, DP04_0071PM

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.

Figures are published by the US Census Bureau, HUD, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the FBI; Seayora reproduces them and does not adjust them, except where a sentence says it compares dollar figures after inflation. They describe the whole place, not any one building or street, and are not an appraisal, a rent determination, a tax bill, a safety rating or legal advice.