How are homes heated in Arcata, CA?

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

Utility gas is the most common heating fuel in Arcata, used by 69.0% (±4.1 points) of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

22.6% heat with electricity.

0.2% heat with fuel oil or kerosene.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Utility gas: 69.0% (±4.1 points)
Electricity: 22.6%
Fuel oil, kerosene: 0.2%

Heating fuel in Arcata

Occupied housing units by house heating fuel, 2020–2024
Fuel used most	Arcata	Humboldt County	California	United States
Utility gas	69.0% (±4.1 points)	55.5%	61.0%	46.5%
Fuel oil, kerosene, etc.	0.2% (±0.2 points)	0.7%	0.2%	3.9%
Electricity	22.6% (±3.6 points)	17.5%	29.5%	41.3%
Bottled or tank gas (propane)	1.4% (±1.0 points)	8.4%	3.4%	4.9%
Wood	3.5% (±1.4 points)	15.6%	1.3%	1.4%
Solar energy	0.9% (±0.5 points)	0.9%	1.2%	0.3%
Coal or coke	0.3% (±0.4 points)	0.0%	0.0%	0.1%
Other fuel	0.5% (±0.6 points)	0.3%	0.3%	0.5%
No fuel used	1.5% (±1.0 points)	1.0%	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 Arcata, the share of homes heating with fuel oil is lower than in Humboldt County (0.7%).

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

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

In Arcata, the share of homes heating with electricity is higher than in Humboldt County (17.5%).

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 Arcata

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Arcata
Place	Distance	Homes heated by electricity	Compared with this place
Arcata	—	22.6% (±3.6 points)	—
Blue Lake	4.4 mi	12.2% (±7.5 points)	Lower
Myrtletown	5.9 mi	14.2% (±6.1 points)	Lower
Eureka	6.1 mi	21.9% (±3.4 points)	Not measurably different
McKinleyville	6.2 mi	16.0% (±3.6 points)	Lower
Cutten	7.6 mi	10.2% (±8.1 points)	Lower
Bayview (Humboldt County)	8.6 mi	13.4% (±6.5 points)	Lower
Pine Hills	10 mi	11.6% (±5.9 points)	Lower
Humboldt Hill	12 mi	10.1% (±6.6 points)	Lower

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Blue Lake, CA (12.2%), Myrtletown, CA (14.2%), McKinleyville, CA (16.0%).

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

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

Rank	Place	Homes heated by fuel oil
3	Ferndale	3.2% (±3.2 points)
4	Garberville	3.1% (±5.0 points)
5	Hoopa	2.6% (±2.7 points)
6	Westhaven-Moonstone	2.5% (±2.4 points)
7	Rio Dell	1.2% (±2.0 points)
8	McKinleyville	0.3% (±0.4 points)
9 (tie)	Arcata	0.2% (±0.2 points)
9 (tie)	Fortuna	0.2% (±0.3 points)
11 (tie)	Blue Lake	0.0% (±7.1 points)
11 (tie)	Eureka	0.0% (±0.4 points)
11 (tie)	Bayview (Humboldt County)	0.0% (±3.8 points)
11 (tie)	Cutten	0.0% (±3.2 points)
11 (tie)	Humboldt Hill	0.0% (±3.5 points)

Showing 13 of 19 places in Humboldt 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 Arcata

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

Utility gas is the most common heating fuel in Arcata, used by 69.0% of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

How many homes in Arcata heat with oil?

0.2% (±0.2 points) of occupied homes in Arcata use fuel oil or kerosene as their main heating fuel.

How many homes in Arcata have electric heat?

22.6% (±3.6 points) of occupied homes in Arcata heat mainly with electricity, which includes heat pumps.

Sources

Selected Housing Characteristics (DP04), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Arcata city, 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 Arcata city, California (place:02476, 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.