How are homes heated in Alta Sierra, CA?

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

Bottled or tank gas (propane) is the most common heating fuel in Alta Sierra, used by 52.9% (±7.4 points) of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

9.9% heat with utility gas.

21.7% heat with electricity.

2.0% heat with fuel oil or kerosene.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Utility gas: 9.9% (±4.9 points)
Electricity: 21.7%
Fuel oil, kerosene: 2.0%

Heating fuel in Alta Sierra

Occupied housing units by house heating fuel, 2020–2024
Fuel used most	Alta Sierra	Nevada County	California	United States
Utility gas	9.9% (±4.9 points)	35.0%	61.0%	46.5%
Fuel oil, kerosene, etc.	2.0% (±2.3 points)	0.5%	0.2%	3.9%
Electricity	21.7% (±7.7 points)	16.5%	29.5%	41.3%
Bottled or tank gas (propane)	52.9% (±7.4 points)	32.1%	3.4%	4.9%
Wood	12.6% (±5.7 points)	12.3%	1.3%	1.4%
Solar energy	0.5% (±0.9 points)	1.6%	1.2%	0.3%
Coal or coke	0.0% (±1.4 points)	0.0%	0.0%	0.1%
Other fuel	0.4% (±0.6 points)	1.5%	0.3%	0.5%
No fuel used	0.0% (±1.4 points)	0.4%	3.0%	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 Alta Sierra, the share of homes heating with fuel oil is not measurably different from Nevada County (0.5%).

It is not measurably different from California (0.2%).

It is not measurably different from the national figure (3.9%).

In Alta Sierra, the share of homes heating with electricity is not measurably different from Nevada County (16.5%).

It is also lower than in California (29.5%).

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

Homes heated by electricity in places near Alta Sierra

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Alta Sierra
Place	Distance	Homes heated by electricity	Compared with this place
Alta Sierra	—	21.7% (±7.7 points)	—
Colfax	5.6 mi	36.6% (±10.6 points)	Higher
Lake of the Pines	6.1 mi	12.8% (±5.9 points)	Not measurably different
Grass Valley	6.5 mi	26.8% (±5.6 points)	Not measurably different
Meadow Vista	8.6 mi	14.6% (±7.9 points)	Not measurably different
Penn Valley	9.1 mi	18.5% (±13.5 points)	Not measurably different
Nevada City	9.3 mi	12.3% (±9.0 points)	Not measurably different
Lake Wildwood	11 mi	13.5% (±6.8 points)	Not measurably different
North Auburn	14 mi	21.6% (±4.4 points)	Not measurably different

Nearby places with a measurably higher figure: Colfax, CA (36.6%).

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

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

Rank	Place	Homes heated by fuel oil
1	Alta Sierra	2.0% (±2.3 points)
2	Nevada City	1.6% (±2.6 points)
3	Lake of the Pines	0.5% (±0.9 points)
4	Truckee	0.1% (±0.2 points)
5 (tie)	Grass Valley	0.0% (±0.6 points)
5 (tie)	Lake Wildwood	0.0% (±2.0 points)
5 (tie)	Penn Valley	0.0% (±6.1 points)

Alta Sierra is a census-designated place: an unincorporated community the Census Bureau draws for statistics, with no municipal government of its own.

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 Alta Sierra

What is the most common way to heat a home in Alta Sierra?

Bottled or tank gas (propane) is the most common heating fuel in Alta Sierra, used by 52.9% of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

How many homes in Alta Sierra heat with oil?

2.0% (±2.3 points) of occupied homes in Alta Sierra use fuel oil or kerosene as their main heating fuel.

How many homes in Alta Sierra have electric heat?

21.7% (±7.7 points) of occupied homes in Alta Sierra heat mainly with electricity, which includes heat pumps.

Sources

Selected Housing Characteristics (DP04), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Alta Sierra CDP (Nevada County), California

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 Alta Sierra CDP (Nevada County), California (place:01360, in state:06).

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.