How are homes heated in DeKalb, IL?

Name: Heating fuel in DeKalb, IL, 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 DeKalb, used by 66.7% (±4.2 points) of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

31.0% heat with electricity.

0.0% heat with fuel oil or kerosene.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Utility gas: 66.7% (±4.2 points)
Electricity: 31.0%
Fuel oil, kerosene: 0.0%

Heating fuel in DeKalb

Occupied housing units by house heating fuel, 2020–2024
Fuel used most	DeKalb	DeKalb County	Illinois	United States
Utility gas	66.7% (±4.2 points)	71.6%	75.3%	46.5%
Fuel oil, kerosene, etc.	0.0% (±0.2 points)	0.3%	0.1%	3.9%
Electricity	31.0% (±4.3 points)	21.7%	18.6%	41.3%
Bottled or tank gas (propane)	1.9% (±0.9 points)	5.5%	4.2%	4.9%
Wood	0.0% (±0.2 points)	0.3%	0.3%	1.4%
Solar energy	0.0% (±0.2 points)	0.2%	0.1%	0.3%
Coal or coke	0.0% (±0.2 points)	0.0%	0.0%	0.1%
Other fuel	0.4% (±0.3 points)	0.3%	0.5%	0.5%
No fuel used	0.0% (±0.2 points)	0.1%	0.8%	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 DeKalb, the share of homes heating with fuel oil is lower than in DeKalb County (0.3%).

It is not measurably different from Illinois (0.1%).

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

In DeKalb, the share of homes heating with electricity is higher than in DeKalb County (21.7%).

It is also higher than in Illinois (18.6%).

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

Homes heated by electricity in places near DeKalb

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with DeKalb
Place	Distance	Homes heated by electricity	Compared with this place
DeKalb	—	31.0% (±4.3 points)	—
DeKalb Township	1.3 mi	31.2% (±4.1 points)	Not measurably different
Cortland	3.1 mi	4.2% (±3.9 points)	Lower
Cortland Township	4.4 mi	8.6% (±2.9 points)	Lower
Afton Township	5.0 mi	4.9% (±5.7 points)	Lower
Sycamore	5.9 mi	18.1% (±5.2 points)	Lower
Malta	6.4 mi	19.3% (±9.7 points)	Lower
Mayfield Township	6.6 mi	6.1% (±6.3 points)	Lower
Malta Township	7.0 mi	18.9% (±7.8 points)	Lower

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Cortland, IL (4.2%), Cortland Township, IL (8.6%), Afton Township, IL (4.9%).

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

Homes heated by fuel oil across DeKalb County, place by place

Rank	Place	Homes heated by fuel oil
6	Kingston Township	1.8% (±2.4 points)
7	Sycamore Township	0.3% (±0.4 points)
8	Sandwich Township	0.2% (±0.2 points)
9 (tie)	Sycamore	0.1% (±0.1 points)
9 (tie)	Cortland Township	0.1% (±0.2 points)
11 (tie)	Cortland	0.0% (±2.4 points)
11 (tie)	DeKalb	0.0% (±0.2 points)
11 (tie)	Genoa	0.0% (±1.7 points)
11 (tie)	Hinckley	0.0% (±4.2 points)
11 (tie)	Kingston	0.0% (±7.0 points)
11 (tie)	Kirkland	0.0% (±5.9 points)
11 (tie)	Lee	0.0% (±26.3 points)
11 (tie)	Malta	0.0% (±8.3 points)

Showing 13 of 32 places in DeKalb 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 DeKalb

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

Utility gas is the most common heating fuel in DeKalb, used by 66.7% of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

How many homes in DeKalb heat with oil?

0.0% (±0.2 points) of occupied homes in DeKalb use fuel oil or kerosene as their main heating fuel.

How many homes in DeKalb have electric heat?

31.0% (±4.3 points) of occupied homes in DeKalb heat mainly with electricity, which includes heat pumps.

Sources

Selected Housing Characteristics (DP04), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — DeKalb city, Illinois

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 DeKalb city, Illinois (place:19161, in state:17).

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.