How are homes heated in Chester, CT?

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

Fuel oil or kerosene is the most common heating fuel in Chester, used by 57.6% (±7.1 points) of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

1.5% heat with utility gas.

21.8% heat with electricity.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Utility gas: 1.5% (±1.2 points)
Electricity: 21.8%
Fuel oil, kerosene: 57.6%

Heating fuel in Chester

Occupied housing units by house heating fuel, 2020–2024
Fuel used most	Chester	Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region	Connecticut	United States
Utility gas	1.5% (±1.2 points)	14.8%	36.3%	46.5%
Fuel oil, kerosene, etc.	57.6% (±7.1 points)	51.7%	36.3%	3.9%
Electricity	21.8% (±6.0 points)	18.9%	18.4%	41.3%
Bottled or tank gas (propane)	15.5% (±4.9 points)	9.4%	5.8%	4.9%
Wood	3.6% (±2.4 points)	2.7%	1.4%	1.4%
Solar energy	0.0% (±2.6 points)	0.4%	0.2%	0.3%
Coal or coke	0.0% (±2.6 points)	0.1%	0.0%	0.1%
Other fuel	0.0% (±2.6 points)	1.3%	1.0%	0.5%
No fuel used	0.0% (±2.6 points)	0.9%	0.5%	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 Chester, the share of homes heating with fuel oil is not measurably different from Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region (51.7%).

It is also higher than in Connecticut (36.3%).

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

In Chester, the share of homes heating with electricity is not measurably different from Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region (18.9%).

It is not measurably different from Connecticut (18.4%).

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

Homes heated by electricity in places near Chester

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Chester
Place	Distance	Homes heated by electricity	Compared with this place
Chester	—	21.8% (±6.0 points)	—
Deep River	3.1 mi	24.9% (±8.4 points)	Not measurably different
Deep River Center	3.3 mi	33.6% (±12.9 points)	Not measurably different
Killingworth	5.4 mi	2.9% (±2.5 points)	Lower
Essex	5.7 mi	21.2% (±5.4 points)	Not measurably different
Haddam	5.7 mi	5.3% (±2.4 points)	Lower
Essex Village	6.2 mi	20.5% (±7.9 points)	Not measurably different
Higganum	6.6 mi	4.0% (±3.9 points)	Lower
East Haddam	6.7 mi	6.3% (±2.3 points)	Lower

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Killingworth, CT (2.9%), Haddam, CT (5.3%), Higganum, CT (4.0%).

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

Homes heated by fuel oil across Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region, place by place

Rank	Place	Homes heated by fuel oil
4	Portland	68.8% (±5.4 points)
5	East Haddam	67.8% (±6.2 points)
6	Lyme	66.5% (±8.9 points)
7	Old Lyme	64.6% (±4.8 points)
8	East Hampton	58.8% (±5.0 points)
9	Essex	58.0% (±6.7 points)
10	Chester	57.6% (±7.1 points)
11	Deep River	56.7% (±8.0 points)
12	Middlefield	56.2% (±9.9 points)
13	Old Saybrook	53.7% (±6.1 points)
14	Clinton	53.5% (±4.8 points)
15	Westbrook	52.9% (±7.2 points)
16	Cromwell	32.7% (±5.5 points)

Showing 13 of 17 places in Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region, ranked from highest to lowest.

The figures for Chester include the places inside it that have pages of their own: Chester Center.

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 Chester

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

Fuel oil or kerosene is the most common heating fuel in Chester, used by 57.6% of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

How many homes in Chester heat with oil?

57.6% (±7.1 points) of occupied homes in Chester use fuel oil or kerosene as their main heating fuel.

How many homes in Chester have electric heat?

21.8% (±6.0 points) of occupied homes in Chester heat mainly with electricity, which includes heat pumps.

Sources

Selected Housing Characteristics (DP04), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Chester town, Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region, Connecticut

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 Chester town, Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region, Connecticut (county subdivision:14300, in state:09 county:130).

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.