How are homes heated in Bristol, ME?

Name: Heating fuel in Bristol, ME, 2020–2024
Creator: US Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

Fuel oil or kerosene is the most common heating fuel in Bristol, used by 51.1% (±7.9 points) of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

0.0% heat with utility gas.

7.9% heat with electricity.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Utility gas: 0.0% (±2.0 points)
Electricity: 7.9%
Fuel oil, kerosene: 51.1%

Heating fuel in Bristol

Occupied housing units by house heating fuel, 2020–2024
Fuel used most	Bristol	Lincoln County	Maine	United States
Utility gas	0.0% (±2.0 points)	1.7%	8.3%	46.5%
Fuel oil, kerosene, etc.	51.1% (±7.9 points)	56.5%	55.3%	3.9%
Electricity	7.9% (±3.9 points)	8.5%	11.2%	41.3%
Bottled or tank gas (propane)	33.1% (±8.6 points)	18.3%	13.8%	4.9%
Wood	7.3% (±4.8 points)	12.5%	8.8%	1.4%
Solar energy	0.0% (±2.0 points)	0.5%	0.4%	0.3%
Coal or coke	0.6% (±1.0 points)	0.2%	0.1%	0.1%
Other fuel	0.0% (±2.0 points)	1.2%	1.7%	0.5%
No fuel used	0.0% (±2.0 points)	0.7%	0.4%	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 Bristol, the share of homes heating with fuel oil is not measurably different from Lincoln County (56.5%).

It is not measurably different from Maine (55.3%).

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

In Bristol, the share of homes heating with electricity is not measurably different from Lincoln County (8.5%).

It is not measurably different from Maine (11.2%).

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

Homes heated by electricity in places near Bristol

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Bristol
Place	Distance	Homes heated by electricity	Compared with this place
Bristol	—	7.9% (±3.9 points)	—
South Bristol	3.9 mi	4.5% (±2.9 points)	Not measurably different
Bremen	6.4 mi	14.9% (±8.2 points)	Not measurably different
Friendship	7.6 mi	7.8% (±5.4 points)	Not measurably different
Boothbay Harbor (community)	7.9 mi	5.9% (±4.2 points)	Not measurably different
Boothbay Harbor	8.6 mi	7.5% (±3.6 points)	Not measurably different
Damariscotta (community)	9.0 mi	19.6% (±10.0 points)	Higher
Edgecomb	9.0 mi	5.2% (±4.2 points)	Not measurably different
Damariscotta	9.0 mi	12.3% (±5.0 points)	Not measurably different

Nearby places with a measurably higher figure: Damariscotta (community), ME (19.6%).

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

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

Rank	Place	Homes heated by fuel oil
4	Westport Island	63.4% (±8.3 points)
5	Nobleboro	61.7% (±8.1 points)
6	Waldoboro	57.7% (±10.6 points)
7	Edgecomb	57.3% (±9.7 points)
8	Jefferson	52.6% (±7.6 points)
9	Whitefield	51.4% (±9.1 points)
10	Bristol	51.1% (±7.9 points)
11	Damariscotta	50.5% (±8.9 points)
12	Boothbay Harbor	49.3% (±7.2 points)
13	Newcastle	47.1% (±10.7 points)
14	Southport	47.0% (±12.9 points)
15	South Bristol	46.1% (±9.1 points)
16	Bremen	45.1% (±7.9 points)

Showing 13 of 19 places in Lincoln 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 Bristol

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

Fuel oil or kerosene is the most common heating fuel in Bristol, used by 51.1% of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

How many homes in Bristol heat with oil?

51.1% (±7.9 points) of occupied homes in Bristol use fuel oil or kerosene as their main heating fuel.

How many homes in Bristol have electric heat?

7.9% (±3.9 points) of occupied homes in Bristol heat mainly with electricity, which includes heat pumps.

Sources

Selected Housing Characteristics (DP04), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Bristol town, Lincoln County, Maine

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 Bristol town, Lincoln County, Maine (county subdivision:07485, in state:23 county:015).

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.