How are homes heated in South Bend, IN?

Name: Heating fuel in South Bend, IN, 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 South Bend, used by 81.2% (±1.3 points) of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

16.5% heat with electricity.

0.2% heat with fuel oil or kerosene.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Utility gas: 81.2% (±1.3 points)
Electricity: 16.5%
Fuel oil, kerosene: 0.2%

Heating fuel in South Bend

Occupied housing units by house heating fuel, 2020–2024
Fuel used most	South Bend	St. Joseph County	Indiana	United States
Utility gas	81.2% (±1.3 points)	81.0%	58.6%	46.5%
Fuel oil, kerosene, etc.	0.2% (±0.2 points)	0.2%	0.5%	3.9%
Electricity	16.5% (±1.2 points)	15.7%	31.2%	41.3%
Bottled or tank gas (propane)	1.4% (±0.4 points)	2.2%	7.2%	4.9%
Wood	0.1% (±0.1 points)	0.4%	1.5%	1.4%
Solar energy	0.0% (±0.1 points)	0.0%	0.1%	0.3%
Coal or coke	0.0% (±0.1 points)	0.0%	0.1%	0.1%
Other fuel	0.1% (±0.1 points)	0.1%	0.4%	0.5%
No fuel used	0.4% (±0.2 points)	0.4%	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 South Bend, the share of homes heating with fuel oil is not measurably different from St. Joseph County (0.2%).

It is also lower than in Indiana (0.5%).

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

In South Bend, the share of homes heating with electricity is not measurably different from St. Joseph County (15.7%).

It is also lower than in Indiana (31.2%).

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

Homes heated by electricity in places near South Bend

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with South Bend
Place	Distance	Homes heated by electricity	Compared with this place
South Bend	—	16.5% (±1.2 points)	—
Portage Township (St. Joseph County)	0.6 mi	16.1% (±1.4 points)	Not measurably different
Notre Dame	2.3 mi	61.6% (±25.4 points)	Higher
Roseland	3.0 mi	43.5% (±9.0 points)	Higher
Ardmore	3.1 mi	3.2% (±3.6 points)	Lower
Indian Village	3.2 mi	8.6% (±11.9 points)	Not measurably different
German Township (St. Joseph County)	4.0 mi	8.8% (±3.0 points)	Lower
Clay Township (St. Joseph County)	4.4 mi	24.6% (±3.4 points)	Higher
Gilmer Park	4.4 mi	6.7% (±7.6 points)	Lower

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Ardmore, IN (3.2%), German Township (St. Joseph County), IN (8.8%), Gilmer Park, IN (6.7%).

Nearby places with a measurably higher figure: Notre Dame, IN (61.6%), Roseland, IN (43.5%), Clay Township (St. Joseph County), IN (24.6%).

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

Homes heated by fuel oil across St. Joseph County, place by place

Rank	Place	Homes heated by fuel oil
1	Madison Township (St. Joseph County)	2.2% (±2.7 points)
2	German Township (St. Joseph County)	0.7% (±1.0 points)
3	Greene Township (St. Joseph County)	0.5% (±0.9 points)
4 (tie)	Osceola	0.3% (±0.5 points)
4 (tie)	Olive Township (St. Joseph County)	0.3% (±0.5 points)
4 (tie)	Warren Township (St. Joseph County)	0.3% (±0.5 points)
7 (tie)	South Bend	0.2% (±0.2 points)
7 (tie)	Portage Township (St. Joseph County)	0.2% (±0.2 points)
9 (tie)	Clay Township (St. Joseph County)	0.1% (±0.1 points)
9 (tie)	Penn Township (St. Joseph County)	0.1% (±0.1 points)
11 (tie)	Granger	0.0% (±0.4 points)
11 (tie)	Indian Village	0.0% (±53.8 points)
11 (tie)	Lakeville	0.0% (±10.3 points)

Showing 13 of 24 places in St. Joseph 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 South Bend

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

Utility gas is the most common heating fuel in South Bend, used by 81.2% of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

How many homes in South Bend heat with oil?

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

How many homes in South Bend have electric heat?

16.5% (±1.2 points) of occupied homes in South Bend heat mainly with electricity, which includes heat pumps.

Sources

Selected Housing Characteristics (DP04), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — South Bend city, Indiana

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 South Bend city, Indiana (place:71000, in state:18).

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.