How are homes heated in Portola Valley, CA?
Utility gas is the most common heating fuel in Portola Valley, used by 76.9% (±7.5 points) of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).
17.4% heat with electricity.
0.9% heat with fuel oil or kerosene.
Figures last updated on .
- Utility gas
- 76.9% (±7.5 points)
- Electricity
- 17.4%
- Fuel oil, kerosene
- 0.9%
Heating fuel in Portola Valley
| Fuel used most | Portola Valley | San Mateo County | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Utility gas | 76.9% (±7.5 points) | 62.8% | 61.0% | 46.5% |
| Fuel oil, kerosene, etc. | 0.9% (±1.5 points) | 0.1% | 0.2% | 3.9% |
| Electricity | 17.4% (±6.7 points) | 31.8% | 29.5% | 41.3% |
| Bottled or tank gas (propane) | 1.0% (±1.6 points) | 2.1% | 3.4% | 4.9% |
| Wood | 0.0% (±2.4 points) | 0.4% | 1.3% | 1.4% |
| Solar energy | 2.9% (±2.7 points) | 0.6% | 1.2% | 0.3% |
| Coal or coke | 0.0% (±2.4 points) | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.1% |
| Other fuel | 0.8% (±1.4 points) | 0.2% | 0.3% | 0.5% |
| No fuel used | 0.0% (±2.4 points) | 2.0% | 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 Portola Valley, the share of homes heating with fuel oil is not measurably different from San Mateo County (0.1%).
It is not measurably different from California (0.2%).
It is lower than the national figure (3.9%).
In Portola Valley, the share of homes heating with electricity is lower than in San Mateo County (31.8%).
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 Portola Valley
| Place | Distance | Homes heated by electricity | Compared with this place |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portola Valley | — | 17.4% (±6.7 points) | — |
| Ladera | 3.0 mi | 9.4% (±9.3 points) | Not measurably different |
| La Honda | 3.6 mi | 9.2% (±8.9 points) | Not measurably different |
| Woodside | 4.2 mi | 15.8% (±4.7 points) | Not measurably different |
| West Menlo Park | 5.0 mi | 19.4% (±7.2 points) | Not measurably different |
| Los Altos Hills | 5.2 mi | 21.9% (±5.2 points) | Not measurably different |
| Palo Alto | 5.4 mi | 30.5% (±1.9 points) | Higher |
| Stanford | 5.6 mi | 55.1% (±7.0 points) | Higher |
| Atherton | 6.6 mi | 18.1% (±5.1 points) | Not measurably different |
Nearby places with a measurably higher figure: Palo Alto, CA (30.5%), Stanford, CA (55.1%).
Distance is measured in a straight line between the Census Bureau’s internal points for each place.
Homes heated by fuel oil across San Mateo County, place by place
| Rank | Place | Homes heated by fuel oil |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | El Granada | 5.8% (±8.6 points) |
| 2 | Colma | 1.3% (±1.8 points) |
| 3 | Woodside | 1.0% (±1.0 points) |
| 4 | Portola Valley | 0.9% (±1.5 points) |
| 5 | Menlo Park | 0.6% (±0.7 points) |
| 6 | Millbrae | 0.3% (±0.3 points) |
| 7 (tie) | Redwood City | 0.1% (±0.1 points) |
| 7 (tie) | San Bruno | 0.1% (±0.1 points) |
| 7 (tie) | San Mateo | 0.1% (±0.2 points) |
| 10 (tie) | Atherton | 0.0% (±1.9 points) |
Showing 10 of 31 places in San Mateo 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 Portola Valley
What is the most common way to heat a home in Portola Valley?
Utility gas is the most common heating fuel in Portola Valley, used by 76.9% of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).
How many homes in Portola Valley heat with oil?
0.9% (±1.5 points) of occupied homes in Portola Valley use fuel oil or kerosene as their main heating fuel.
How many homes in Portola Valley have electric heat?
17.4% (±6.7 points) of occupied homes in Portola Valley heat mainly with electricity, which includes heat pumps.
Sources
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 Portola Valley town, California (place:58380, in state:06).
Each estimate (E or PE) has a margin of error beside it (M or PM).
The API needs a free 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.
Figures last updated on .
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- California landlord and tenant rules
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