How are homes heated in Thornton, IA?

Name: Heating fuel in Thornton, 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 Thornton, used by 86.1% (±6.5 points) of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

13.9% heat with electricity.

0.0% heat with fuel oil or kerosene.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Utility gas: 86.1% (±6.5 points)
Electricity: 13.9%
Fuel oil, kerosene: 0.0%

Heating fuel in Thornton

Occupied housing units by house heating fuel, 2020–2024
Fuel used most	Thornton	Cerro Gordo County	Iowa	United States
Utility gas	86.1% (±6.5 points)	71.1%	60.2%	46.5%
Fuel oil, kerosene, etc.	0.0% (±10.2 points)	0.2%	0.3%	3.9%
Electricity	13.9% (±6.5 points)	18.4%	24.4%	41.3%
Bottled or tank gas (propane)	0.0% (±10.2 points)	9.6%	12.6%	4.9%
Wood	0.0% (±10.2 points)	0.3%	1.1%	1.4%
Solar energy	0.0% (±10.2 points)	0.0%	0.1%	0.3%
Coal or coke	0.0% (±10.2 points)	0.0%	0.0%	0.1%
Other fuel	0.0% (±10.2 points)	0.3%	0.7%	0.5%
No fuel used	0.0% (±10.2 points)	0.1%	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 Thornton, the share of homes heating with fuel oil is not measurably different from Cerro Gordo County (0.2%).

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

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

In Thornton, the share of homes heating with electricity is not measurably different from Cerro Gordo County (18.4%).

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 Thornton

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Thornton
Place	Distance	Homes heated by electricity	Compared with this place
Thornton	—	13.9% (±6.5 points)	—
Swaledale	4.2 mi	5.4% (±6.5 points)	Not measurably different
Meservey	4.8 mi	3.2% (±3.3 points)	Lower
Sheffield	9.9 mi	31.1% (±8.7 points)	Higher
Rockwell	10 mi	28.0% (±11.5 points)	Higher
Alexander	11 mi	17.1% (±11.1 points)	Not measurably different
Goodell	12 mi	6.0% (±7.5 points)	Not measurably different
Klemme	12 mi	11.0% (±7.8 points)	Not measurably different
Latimer	13 mi	37.9% (±26.0 points)	Not measurably different

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Meservey, IA (3.2%).

Nearby places with a measurably higher figure: Sheffield, IA (31.1%), Rockwell, IA (28.0%).

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

Homes heated by fuel oil across Cerro Gordo County, place by place

Rank	Place	Homes heated by fuel oil
3 (tie)	Dougherty	0.0% (±44.6 points)
3 (tie)	Meservey	0.0% (±22.9 points)
3 (tie)	Plymouth	0.0% (±14.4 points)
3 (tie)	Rock Falls	0.0% (±37.9 points)
3 (tie)	Rockwell	0.0% (±6.0 points)
3 (tie)	Swaledale	0.0% (±28.0 points)
3 (tie)	Thornton	0.0% (±10.2 points)
3 (tie)	Ventura	0.0% (±8.0 points)

Showing 8 of 10 places in Cerro Gordo 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 Thornton

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

Utility gas is the most common heating fuel in Thornton, used by 86.1% of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

How many homes in Thornton heat with oil?

0.0% (±10.2 points) of occupied homes in Thornton use fuel oil or kerosene as their main heating fuel.

How many homes in Thornton have electric heat?

13.9% (±6.5 points) of occupied homes in Thornton heat mainly with electricity, which includes heat pumps.

Sources

Selected Housing Characteristics (DP04), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Thornton 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 Thornton city, Iowa (place:77880, 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.