How are homes heated in Ames, IA?

Name: Heating fuel in Ames, IA, 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 Ames, used by 63.2% (±2.4 points) of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

33.1% heat with electricity.

0.1% heat with fuel oil or kerosene.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Utility gas: 63.2% (±2.4 points)
Electricity: 33.1%
Fuel oil, kerosene: 0.1%

Heating fuel in Ames

Occupied housing units by house heating fuel, 2020–2024
Fuel used most	Ames	Story County	Iowa	United States
Utility gas	63.2% (±2.4 points)	62.6%	60.2%	46.5%
Fuel oil, kerosene, etc.	0.1% (±0.2 points)	0.1%	0.3%	3.9%
Electricity	33.1% (±2.3 points)	29.0%	24.4%	41.3%
Bottled or tank gas (propane)	1.9% (±0.6 points)	6.7%	12.6%	4.9%
Wood	0.0% (±0.1 points)	0.2%	1.1%	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%	0.0%	0.1%
Other fuel	1.2% (±0.8 points)	1.0%	0.7%	0.5%
No fuel used	0.4% (±0.3 points)	0.4%	0.6%	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 Ames, the share of homes heating with fuel oil is not measurably different from Story County (0.1%).

It is not measurably different from Iowa (0.3%).

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

In Ames, the share of homes heating with electricity is higher than in Story County (29.0%).

It is also higher than in Iowa (24.4%).

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

Homes heated by electricity in places near Ames

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Ames
Place	Distance	Homes heated by electricity	Compared with this place
Ames	—	33.1% (±2.3 points)	—
Gilbert	5.7 mi	9.9% (±5.6 points)	Lower
Kelley	5.7 mi	47.9% (±23.6 points)	Not measurably different
Nevada	7.8 mi	24.3% (±5.5 points)	Lower
Huxley	9.1 mi	28.7% (±8.2 points)	Not measurably different
Cambridge	9.6 mi	8.8% (±5.3 points)	Lower
Slater	11 mi	18.6% (±6.0 points)	Lower
Luther	11 mi	17.5% (±16.2 points)	Not measurably different
Story City	11 mi	19.2% (±8.4 points)	Lower

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Gilbert, IA (9.9%), Nevada, IA (24.3%), Cambridge, IA (8.8%).

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

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

Rank	Place	Homes heated by fuel oil
1	Slater	1.1% (±1.2 points)
2	Sheldahl	0.8% (±1.5 points)
3	Nevada	0.3% (±0.4 points)
4	Ames	0.1% (±0.2 points)
5 (tie)	Cambridge	0.0% (±7.3 points)
5 (tie)	Collins	0.0% (±11.2 points)
5 (tie)	Colo	0.0% (±7.4 points)
5 (tie)	Gilbert	0.0% (±4.4 points)
5 (tie)	Huxley	0.0% (±1.6 points)
5 (tie)	Kelley	0.0% (±13.9 points)

Showing 10 of 15 places in Story 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 Ames

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

Utility gas is the most common heating fuel in Ames, used by 63.2% of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

How many homes in Ames heat with oil?

0.1% (±0.2 points) of occupied homes in Ames use fuel oil or kerosene as their main heating fuel.

How many homes in Ames have electric heat?

33.1% (±2.3 points) of occupied homes in Ames heat mainly with electricity, which includes heat pumps.

Sources

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

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 Ames city, Iowa (place:01855, in state:19).

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.