How are homes heated in Ottumwa, IA?

Name: Heating fuel in Ottumwa, 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 Ottumwa, used by 77.5% (±3.4 points) of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

18.7% heat with electricity.

0.0% heat with fuel oil or kerosene.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Utility gas: 77.5% (±3.4 points)
Electricity: 18.7%
Fuel oil, kerosene: 0.0%

Heating fuel in Ottumwa

Occupied housing units by house heating fuel, 2020–2024
Fuel used most	Ottumwa	Wapello County	Iowa	United States
Utility gas	77.5% (±3.4 points)	63.5%	60.2%	46.5%
Fuel oil, kerosene, etc.	0.0% (±0.2 points)	0.1%	0.3%	3.9%
Electricity	18.7% (±3.4 points)	19.2%	24.4%	41.3%
Bottled or tank gas (propane)	1.4% (±0.8 points)	12.8%	12.6%	4.9%
Wood	0.0% (±0.2 points)	2.3%	1.1%	1.4%
Solar energy	0.0% (±0.2 points)	0.0%	0.1%	0.3%
Coal or coke	0.0% (±0.2 points)	0.0%	0.0%	0.1%
Other fuel	0.9% (±0.6 points)	0.7%	0.7%	0.5%
No fuel used	1.5% (±1.0 points)	1.5%	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 Ottumwa, the share of homes heating with fuel oil is not measurably different from Wapello County (0.1%).

It is also lower than in Iowa (0.3%).

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

In Ottumwa, the share of homes heating with electricity is not measurably different from Wapello County (19.2%).

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

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

Homes heated by electricity in places near Ottumwa

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Ottumwa
Place	Distance	Homes heated by electricity	Compared with this place
Ottumwa	—	18.7% (±3.4 points)	—
Agency	6.3 mi	16.1% (±7.6 points)	Not measurably different
Chillicothe	7.1 mi	2.7% (±7.7 points)	Lower
Kirkville	9.3 mi	11.7% (±10.6 points)	Not measurably different
Blakesburg	12 mi	34.4% (±15.6 points)	Not measurably different
Floris	12 mi	11.8% (±13.4 points)	Not measurably different
Hedrick	12 mi	39.3% (±8.9 points)	Higher
Eldon	13 mi	26.9% (±9.1 points)	Not measurably different
Fremont	13 mi	27.9% (±8.5 points)	Higher

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Chillicothe, IA (2.7%).

Nearby places with a measurably higher figure: Hedrick, IA (39.3%), Fremont, IA (27.9%).

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

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

Rank	Place	Homes heated by fuel oil
1	Eldon	2.4% (±1.8 points)
2 (tie)	Agency	0.0% (±10.8 points)
2 (tie)	Blakesburg	0.0% (±17.7 points)
2 (tie)	Chillicothe	0.0% (±42.8 points)
2 (tie)	Eddyville	0.0% (±5.4 points)
2 (tie)	Kirkville	0.0% (±23.1 points)
2 (tie)	Ottumwa	0.0% (±0.2 points)

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 Ottumwa

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

Utility gas is the most common heating fuel in Ottumwa, used by 77.5% of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

How many homes in Ottumwa heat with oil?

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

How many homes in Ottumwa have electric heat?

18.7% (±3.4 points) of occupied homes in Ottumwa heat mainly with electricity, which includes heat pumps.

Sources

Selected Housing Characteristics (DP04), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Ottumwa 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 Ottumwa city, Iowa (place:60465, 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.