How are homes heated in Chico, CA?

Name: Heating fuel in Chico, 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 Chico, used by 53.8% (±2.0 points) of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

39.8% heat with electricity.

0.0% heat with fuel oil or kerosene.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Utility gas: 53.8% (±2.0 points)
Electricity: 39.8%
Fuel oil, kerosene: 0.0%

Heating fuel in Chico

Occupied housing units by house heating fuel, 2020–2024
Fuel used most	Chico	Butte County	California	United States
Utility gas	53.8% (±2.0 points)	45.4%	61.0%	46.5%
Fuel oil, kerosene, etc.	0.0% (±0.1 points)	0.2%	0.2%	3.9%
Electricity	39.8% (±2.0 points)	35.0%	29.5%	41.3%
Bottled or tank gas (propane)	1.8% (±0.6 points)	9.1%	3.4%	4.9%
Wood	1.2% (±0.4 points)	7.0%	1.3%	1.4%
Solar energy	1.8% (±0.4 points)	1.9%	1.2%	0.3%
Coal or coke	0.1% (±0.1 points)	0.0%	0.0%	0.1%
Other fuel	0.2% (±0.3 points)	0.5%	0.3%	0.5%
No fuel used	1.3% (±0.6 points)	0.8%	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 Chico, the share of homes heating with fuel oil is lower than in Butte County (0.2%).

It is also lower than in California (0.2%).

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

In Chico, the share of homes heating with electricity is higher than in Butte County (35.0%).

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

It is not measurably different from the national figure (41.3%).

Homes heated by electricity in places near Chico

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Chico
Place	Distance	Homes heated by electricity	Compared with this place
Chico	—	39.8% (±2.0 points)	—
Durham	9.1 mi	29.0% (±9.5 points)	Lower
Hamilton City	10 mi	31.9% (±11.0 points)	Not measurably different
Butte Valley	11 mi	30.1% (±23.1 points)	Not measurably different
Paradise	11 mi	30.9% (±7.7 points)	Lower
Magalia	12 mi	24.2% (±6.9 points)	Lower
Forest Ranch	12 mi	10.6% (±14.8 points)	Lower
Orland	20 mi	38.4% (±7.8 points)	Not measurably different
Thermalito	21 mi	25.3% (±6.7 points)	Lower

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Durham, CA (29.0%), Paradise, CA (30.9%), Magalia, CA (24.2%).

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

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

Rank	Place	Homes heated by fuel oil
1	Magalia	2.5% (±2.3 points)
2	Durham	1.1% (±1.3 points)
3	Palermo	0.8% (±1.1 points)
4	Kelly Ridge	0.6% (±0.9 points)
5	Thermalito	0.4% (±0.7 points)
6 (tie)	Biggs	0.0% (±5.5 points)
6 (tie)	Chico	0.0% (±0.1 points)
6 (tie)	Gridley	0.0% (±1.7 points)
6 (tie)	Oroville	0.0% (±0.6 points)
6 (tie)	Paradise	0.0% (±1.3 points)
6 (tie)	Butte Valley	0.0% (±7.5 points)
6 (tie)	Forest Ranch	0.0% (±6.0 points)
6 (tie)	Oroville East	0.0% (±1.4 points)

Showing 13 of 14 places in Butte 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 Chico

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

Utility gas is the most common heating fuel in Chico, used by 53.8% of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

How many homes in Chico heat with oil?

0.0% (±0.1 points) of occupied homes in Chico use fuel oil or kerosene as their main heating fuel.

How many homes in Chico have electric heat?

39.8% (±2.0 points) of occupied homes in Chico heat mainly with electricity, which includes heat pumps.

Sources

Selected Housing Characteristics (DP04), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Chico 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 Chico city, California (place:13014, 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.