How are homes heated in Salem, CT?

Name: Heating fuel in Salem, 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 Salem, used by 55.2% (±8.2 points) of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

1.2% heat with utility gas.

13.5% heat with electricity.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Utility gas: 1.2% (±1.3 points)
Electricity: 13.5%
Fuel oil, kerosene: 55.2%

Heating fuel in Salem

Occupied housing units by house heating fuel, 2020–2024
Fuel used most	Salem	Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region	Connecticut	United States
Utility gas	1.2% (±1.3 points)	16.3%	36.3%	46.5%
Fuel oil, kerosene, etc.	55.2% (±8.2 points)	48.6%	36.3%	3.9%
Electricity	13.5% (±5.9 points)	22.0%	18.4%	41.3%
Bottled or tank gas (propane)	18.3% (±5.5 points)	8.7%	5.8%	4.9%
Wood	9.0% (±5.0 points)	2.5%	1.4%	1.4%
Solar energy	1.4% (±1.3 points)	0.4%	0.2%	0.3%
Coal or coke	0.0% (±2.4 points)	0.0%	0.0%	0.1%
Other fuel	1.2% (±1.3 points)	0.9%	1.0%	0.5%
No fuel used	0.3% (±0.5 points)	0.7%	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 Salem, the share of homes heating with fuel oil is not measurably different from Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region (48.6%).

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

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

In Salem, the share of homes heating with electricity is lower than in Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region (22.0%).

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 Salem

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Salem
Place	Distance	Homes heated by electricity	Compared with this place
Salem	—	13.5% (±5.9 points)	—
Montville	5.6 mi	15.3% (±2.7 points)	Not measurably different
Bozrah	5.8 mi	10.7% (±4.6 points)	Not measurably different
Colchester	6.5 mi	15.3% (±3.7 points)	Not measurably different
East Haddam	7.0 mi	6.3% (±2.3 points)	Lower
Colchester (community)	7.2 mi	20.1% (±5.8 points)	Not measurably different
Lyme	7.3 mi	7.6% (±3.8 points)	Not measurably different
Oxoboxo River	7.5 mi	26.3% (±9.8 points)	Higher
Moodus	9.2 mi	4.6% (±4.8 points)	Lower

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: East Haddam, CT (6.3%), Moodus, CT (4.6%).

Nearby places with a measurably higher figure: Oxoboxo River, CT (26.3%).

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

Homes heated by fuel oil across Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region, place by place

Rank	Place	Homes heated by fuel oil
7	Ledyard	64.7% (±5.8 points)
8	Waterford	62.3% (±3.5 points)
9	Lebanon	61.3% (±8.4 points)
10	Colchester	60.0% (±5.2 points)
11	Preston	59.3% (±9.6 points)
12	Stonington	55.8% (±4.2 points)
13	Salem	55.2% (±8.2 points)
14	Montville	54.2% (±5.0 points)
15	East Lyme	53.1% (±3.7 points)
16	Groton	46.3% (±3.5 points)
17	Windham	44.9% (±4.5 points)
18	Norwich	29.6% (±2.6 points)
19	New London	21.3% (±3.6 points)

Showing 13 of 19 places in Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region, 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 Salem

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

Fuel oil or kerosene is the most common heating fuel in Salem, used by 55.2% of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

How many homes in Salem heat with oil?

55.2% (±8.2 points) of occupied homes in Salem use fuel oil or kerosene as their main heating fuel.

How many homes in Salem have electric heat?

13.5% (±5.9 points) of occupied homes in Salem heat mainly with electricity, which includes heat pumps.

Sources

Selected Housing Characteristics (DP04), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Salem town, Southeastern Connecticut 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 Salem town, Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region, Connecticut (county subdivision:66210, in state:09 county:180).

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.