How are homes heated in Ruthven, IA?

Name: Heating fuel in Ruthven, 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 Ruthven, used by 64.7% (±9.2 points) of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

25.7% heat with electricity.

0.0% heat with fuel oil or kerosene.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Utility gas: 64.7% (±9.2 points)
Electricity: 25.7%
Fuel oil, kerosene: 0.0%

Heating fuel in Ruthven

Occupied housing units by house heating fuel, 2020–2024
Fuel used most	Ruthven	Palo Alto County	Iowa	United States
Utility gas	64.7% (±9.2 points)	51.5%	60.2%	46.5%
Fuel oil, kerosene, etc.	0.0% (±8.9 points)	0.8%	0.3%	3.9%
Electricity	25.7% (±7.3 points)	25.8%	24.4%	41.3%
Bottled or tank gas (propane)	9.7% (±7.8 points)	19.4%	12.6%	4.9%
Wood	0.0% (±8.9 points)	0.6%	1.1%	1.4%
Solar energy	0.0% (±8.9 points)	0.1%	0.1%	0.3%
Coal or coke	0.0% (±8.9 points)	0.0%	0.0%	0.1%
Other fuel	0.0% (±8.9 points)	1.0%	0.7%	0.5%
No fuel used	0.0% (±8.9 points)	0.8%	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 Ruthven, the share of homes heating with fuel oil is not measurably different from Palo Alto County (0.8%).

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

It is not measurably different from the national figure (3.9%).

In Ruthven, the share of homes heating with electricity is not measurably different from Palo Alto County (25.8%).

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 Ruthven

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Ruthven
Place	Distance	Homes heated by electricity	Compared with this place
Ruthven	—	25.7% (±7.3 points)	—
Dickens	6.2 mi	12.5% (±17.5 points)	Not measurably different
Ayrshire	7.1 mi	39.1% (±17.0 points)	Not measurably different
Gillett Grove	11 mi	0.0% (±78.4 points)	Not measurably different
Graettinger	11 mi	25.6% (±9.1 points)	Not measurably different
Emmetsburg	11 mi	28.6% (±6.4 points)	Not measurably different
Terril	13 mi	9.3% (±5.3 points)	Lower
Spencer	13 mi	39.6% (±5.1 points)	Higher
Curlew	13 mi	20.7% (±23.8 points)	Not measurably different

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Terril, IA (9.3%).

Nearby places with a measurably higher figure: Spencer, IA (39.6%).

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

Homes heated by fuel oil across Palo Alto County, place by place

Rank	Place	Homes heated by fuel oil
2	Ayrshire	7.2% (±10.8 points)
3	Graettinger	0.9% (±1.6 points)
4 (tie)	Curlew	0.0% (±48.3 points)
4 (tie)	Cylinder	0.0% (±49.2 points)
4 (tie)	Emmetsburg	0.0% (±1.5 points)
4 (tie)	Rodman	0.0% (±63.1 points)
4 (tie)	Ruthven	0.0% (±8.9 points)
4 (tie)	West Bend	0.0% (±7.5 points)

Showing 8 of 9 places in Palo Alto 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.

What you can do on Seayora in Ruthven

One account for renting, owning, managing and fixing homes, with these figures beside you.

Do repairs, renovations or maintenance?

Get found by owners and renters near Ruthven, and send estimates and invoices from your phone.

Join as a pro · Find a pro

Own or manage a rental?

List it, sign the lease and collect rent online, with the figures for Ruthven beside you.

Create a landlord account · See what landlords get

Looking for a place to rent?

Browse homes for rent near Ruthven, save the ones you like and apply online.

Browse rentals · Create a renter account

Questions about Ruthven

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

Utility gas is the most common heating fuel in Ruthven, used by 64.7% of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

How many homes in Ruthven heat with oil?

0.0% (±8.9 points) of occupied homes in Ruthven use fuel oil or kerosene as their main heating fuel.

How many homes in Ruthven have electric heat?

25.7% (±7.3 points) of occupied homes in Ruthven heat mainly with electricity, which includes heat pumps.

Sources

Selected Housing Characteristics (DP04), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Ruthven 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 Ruthven city, Iowa (place:69330, 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.