How are homes heated in Rock Rapids, IA?

Name: Heating fuel in Rock Rapids, 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 Rock Rapids, used by 73.3% (±5.7 points) of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

21.1% heat with electricity.

0.6% heat with fuel oil or kerosene.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Utility gas: 73.3% (±5.7 points)
Electricity: 21.1%
Fuel oil, kerosene: 0.6%

Heating fuel in Rock Rapids

Occupied housing units by house heating fuel, 2020–2024
Fuel used most	Rock Rapids	Lyon County	Iowa	United States
Utility gas	73.3% (±5.7 points)	39.8%	60.2%	46.5%
Fuel oil, kerosene, etc.	0.6% (±1.0 points)	1.4%	0.3%	3.9%
Electricity	21.1% (±5.1 points)	27.8%	24.4%	41.3%
Bottled or tank gas (propane)	0.7% (±1.2 points)	25.6%	12.6%	4.9%
Wood	1.8% (±2.9 points)	0.6%	1.1%	1.4%
Solar energy	0.0% (±2.5 points)	0.0%	0.1%	0.3%
Coal or coke	0.0% (±2.5 points)	0.0%	0.0%	0.1%
Other fuel	0.0% (±2.5 points)	2.5%	0.7%	0.5%
No fuel used	2.4% (±2.2 points)	2.4%	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 Rock Rapids, the share of homes heating with fuel oil is not measurably different from Lyon County (1.4%).

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

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

In Rock Rapids, the share of homes heating with electricity is lower than in Lyon County (27.8%).

It is not measurably different from Iowa (24.4%).

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

Homes heated by electricity in places near Rock Rapids

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Rock Rapids
Place	Distance	Homes heated by electricity	Compared with this place
Rock Rapids	—	21.1% (±5.1 points)	—
Steen	7.8 mi	18.3% (±15.6 points)	Not measurably different
Lester	8.3 mi	22.8% (±13.0 points)	Not measurably different
Kanaranzi Township	8.4 mi	17.3% (±8.4 points)	Not measurably different
Clinton Township (Rock County)	8.8 mi	18.3% (±11.2 points)	Not measurably different
Alvord	9.1 mi	11.9% (±10.8 points)	Not measurably different
Ellsworth	9.8 mi	9.9% (±5.9 points)	Lower
George	10 mi	20.5% (±7.7 points)	Not measurably different
Doon	11 mi	32.0% (±9.4 points)	Higher

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Ellsworth, MN (9.9%).

Nearby places with a measurably higher figure: Doon, IA (32.0%).

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

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

Rank	Place	Homes heated by fuel oil
1	Larchwood	3.5% (±3.0 points)
2	Little Rock	1.2% (±1.9 points)
3	Rock Rapids	0.6% (±1.0 points)
4 (tie)	Alvord	0.0% (±30.2 points)
4 (tie)	Doon	0.0% (±9.6 points)
4 (tie)	George	0.0% (±5.3 points)
4 (tie)	Inwood	0.0% (±7.5 points)
4 (tie)	Lester	0.0% (±19.6 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 Rock Rapids

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

Utility gas is the most common heating fuel in Rock Rapids, used by 73.3% of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

How many homes in Rock Rapids heat with oil?

0.6% (±1.0 points) of occupied homes in Rock Rapids use fuel oil or kerosene as their main heating fuel.

How many homes in Rock Rapids have electric heat?

21.1% (±5.1 points) of occupied homes in Rock Rapids heat mainly with electricity, which includes heat pumps.

Sources

Selected Housing Characteristics (DP04), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Rock Rapids 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 Rock Rapids city, Iowa (place:68160, 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.