How are homes heated in Descanso, CA?

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

Wood is the most common heating fuel in Descanso, used by 31.8% (±11.5 points) of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

3.9% heat with utility gas.

19.8% heat with electricity.

8.8% heat with fuel oil or kerosene.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Utility gas: 3.9% (±5.7 points)
Electricity: 19.8%
Fuel oil, kerosene: 8.8%

Heating fuel in Descanso

Occupied housing units by house heating fuel, 2020–2024
Fuel used most	Descanso	San Diego County	California	United States
Utility gas	3.9% (±5.7 points)	53.7%	61.0%	46.5%
Fuel oil, kerosene, etc.	8.8% (±10.5 points)	0.1%	0.2%	3.9%
Electricity	19.8% (±12.9 points)	35.0%	29.5%	41.3%
Bottled or tank gas (propane)	27.7% (±12.2 points)	3.5%	3.4%	4.9%
Wood	31.8% (±11.5 points)	0.6%	1.3%	1.4%
Solar energy	0.0% (±7.2 points)	2.1%	1.2%	0.3%
Coal or coke	0.0% (±7.2 points)	0.0%	0.0%	0.1%
Other fuel	8.1% (±11.3 points)	0.2%	0.3%	0.5%
No fuel used	0.0% (±7.2 points)	4.7%	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 Descanso, the share of homes heating with fuel oil is not measurably different from San Diego County (0.1%).

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

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

In Descanso, the share of homes heating with electricity is lower than in San Diego County (35.0%).

It is not measurably different from California (29.5%).

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

Homes heated by electricity in places near Descanso

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Descanso
Place	Distance	Homes heated by electricity	Compared with this place
Descanso	—	19.8% (±12.9 points)	—
Pine Valley	7.1 mi	31.7% (±12.4 points)	Not measurably different
Alpine	7.7 mi	34.9% (±5.8 points)	Higher
Harbison Canyon	13 mi	28.4% (±6.9 points)	Not measurably different
San Diego Country Estates	13 mi	32.6% (±7.5 points)	Not measurably different
Julian	14 mi	52.1% (±20.7 points)	Higher
Crest	15 mi	34.8% (±10.9 points)	Not measurably different
Lakeside	16 mi	37.7% (±4.8 points)	Higher
Granite Hills	17 mi	15.7% (±8.9 points)	Not measurably different

Nearby places with a measurably higher figure: Alpine, CA (34.9%), Julian, CA (52.1%), Lakeside, CA (37.7%).

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

Homes heated by fuel oil across San Diego County, place by place

Rank	Place	Homes heated by fuel oil
1	Rancho Santa Fe	9.4% (±10.1 points)
2	Descanso	8.8% (±10.5 points)
3	Jamul	0.9% (±1.5 points)
4	Bonita	0.7% (±1.0 points)
5	Ramona	0.4% (±0.5 points)
6	San Marcos	0.2% (±0.3 points)
7 (tie)	Carlsbad	0.1% (±0.1 points)
7 (tie)	Encinitas	0.1% (±0.2 points)

Showing 8 of 50 places in San Diego County, ranked from highest to lowest.

Descanso 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 Descanso

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

Wood is the most common heating fuel in Descanso, used by 31.8% of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

How many homes in Descanso heat with oil?

8.8% (±10.5 points) of occupied homes in Descanso use fuel oil or kerosene as their main heating fuel.

How many homes in Descanso have electric heat?

19.8% (±12.9 points) of occupied homes in Descanso heat mainly with electricity, which includes heat pumps.

Sources

Selected Housing Characteristics (DP04), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Descanso CDP, 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 Descanso CDP, California (place:18940, 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.