How are homes heated in San Marcos, CA?

Name: Heating fuel in San Marcos, 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 San Marcos, used by 64.0% (±2.1 points) of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

29.8% heat with electricity.

0.2% heat with fuel oil or kerosene.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Utility gas: 64.0% (±2.1 points)
Electricity: 29.8%
Fuel oil, kerosene: 0.2%

Heating fuel in San Marcos

Occupied housing units by house heating fuel, 2020–2024
Fuel used most	San Marcos	San Diego County	California	United States
Utility gas	64.0% (±2.1 points)	53.7%	61.0%	46.5%
Fuel oil, kerosene, etc.	0.2% (±0.3 points)	0.1%	0.2%	3.9%
Electricity	29.8% (±2.1 points)	35.0%	29.5%	41.3%
Bottled or tank gas (propane)	1.6% (±0.5 points)	3.5%	3.4%	4.9%
Wood	0.3% (±0.4 points)	0.6%	1.3%	1.4%
Solar energy	2.3% (±0.7 points)	2.1%	1.2%	0.3%
Coal or coke	0.0% (±0.1 points)	0.0%	0.0%	0.1%
Other fuel	0.1% (±0.2 points)	0.2%	0.3%	0.5%
No fuel used	1.7% (±0.6 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 San Marcos, 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 lower than the national figure (3.9%).

In San Marcos, 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 San Marcos

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with San Marcos
Place	Distance	Homes heated by electricity	Compared with this place
San Marcos	—	29.8% (±2.1 points)	—
Lake San Marcos	2.3 mi	29.9% (±6.7 points)	Not measurably different
Harmony Grove	2.9 mi	27.2% (±12.8 points)	Not measurably different
Escondido	5.5 mi	33.4% (±2.0 points)	Higher
Vista	5.6 mi	33.8% (±2.5 points)	Higher
Carlsbad	6.6 mi	28.2% (±1.9 points)	Not measurably different
Hidden Meadows	6.9 mi	37.6% (±10.9 points)	Not measurably different
Rancho Santa Fe	7.6 mi	35.3% (±11.8 points)	Not measurably different
Encinitas	7.8 mi	26.4% (±2.1 points)	Lower

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Encinitas, CA (26.4%).

Nearby places with a measurably higher figure: Escondido, CA (33.4%), Vista, CA (33.8%).

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)
7 (tie)	La Mesa	0.1% (±0.1 points)
7 (tie)	Poway	0.1% (±0.1 points)
7 (tie)	San Diego	0.1% (±0.1 points)
7 (tie)	Vista	0.1% (±0.1 points)

Showing 12 of 50 places in San Diego 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 San Marcos

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

Utility gas is the most common heating fuel in San Marcos, used by 64.0% of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

How many homes in San Marcos heat with oil?

0.2% (±0.3 points) of occupied homes in San Marcos use fuel oil or kerosene as their main heating fuel.

How many homes in San Marcos have electric heat?

29.8% (±2.1 points) of occupied homes in San Marcos heat mainly with electricity, which includes heat pumps.

Sources

Selected Housing Characteristics (DP04), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — San Marcos 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 San Marcos city, California (place:68196, 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.