How are homes heated in Portland, ME?

Name: Heating fuel in Portland, ME, 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 Portland, used by 39.2% (±2.2 points) of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

21.5% heat with electricity.

30.9% heat with fuel oil or kerosene.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Utility gas: 39.2% (±2.2 points)
Electricity: 21.5%
Fuel oil, kerosene: 30.9%

Heating fuel in Portland

Occupied housing units by house heating fuel, 2020–2024
Fuel used most	Portland	Cumberland County	Maine	United States
Utility gas	39.2% (±2.2 points)	20.1%	8.3%	46.5%
Fuel oil, kerosene, etc.	30.9% (±2.3 points)	45.6%	55.3%	3.9%
Electricity	21.5% (±1.5 points)	14.5%	11.2%	41.3%
Bottled or tank gas (propane)	5.6% (±0.9 points)	13.5%	13.8%	4.9%
Wood	0.5% (±0.2 points)	3.4%	8.8%	1.4%
Solar energy	0.2% (±0.1 points)	0.6%	0.4%	0.3%
Coal or coke	0.0% (±0.1 points)	0.0%	0.1%	0.1%
Other fuel	1.3% (±0.4 points)	1.6%	1.7%	0.5%
No fuel used	0.8% (±0.4 points)	0.8%	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 Portland, the share of homes heating with fuel oil is lower than in Cumberland County (45.6%).

It is also lower than in Maine (55.3%).

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

In Portland, the share of homes heating with electricity is higher than in Cumberland County (14.5%).

It is also higher than in Maine (11.2%).

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

Homes heated by electricity in places near Portland

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Portland
Place	Distance	Homes heated by electricity	Compared with this place
Portland	—	21.5% (±1.5 points)	—
Long Island	3.4 mi	23.1% (±11.1 points)	Not measurably different
Cape Elizabeth	4.6 mi	11.6% (±4.1 points)	Lower
South Portland	5.0 mi	18.1% (±2.7 points)	Lower
Falmouth (community)	6.2 mi	16.3% (±8.0 points)	Not measurably different
Falmouth Foreside	7.0 mi	15.2% (±12.8 points)	Not measurably different
Oak Hill	8.2 mi	10.9% (±4.9 points)	Lower
Scarborough	8.6 mi	14.8% (±4.7 points)	Lower
Falmouth	8.7 mi	10.6% (±2.7 points)	Lower

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Cape Elizabeth, ME (11.6%), South Portland, ME (18.1%), Oak Hill, ME (10.9%).

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

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

Rank	Place	Homes heated by fuel oil
20	Brunswick	44.8% (±3.4 points)
21	Freeport	44.2% (±7.1 points)
22	Harpswell	43.9% (±8.1 points)
23	Falmouth	42.9% (±5.4 points)
24	Chebeague Island	38.5% (±10.4 points)
25	South Portland	37.6% (±3.4 points)
26	Portland	30.9% (±2.3 points)
27	Long Island	30.8% (±14.9 points)
28	Frye Island	5.9% (±16.7 points)

Showing 9 of 28 places in Cumberland 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 Portland

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 Portland, 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 Portland beside you.

Create a landlord account · See what landlords get

Looking for a place to rent?

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

Browse rentals · Create a renter account

Questions about Portland

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

Utility gas is the most common heating fuel in Portland, used by 39.2% of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

How many homes in Portland heat with oil?

30.9% (±2.3 points) of occupied homes in Portland use fuel oil or kerosene as their main heating fuel.

How many homes in Portland have electric heat?

21.5% (±1.5 points) of occupied homes in Portland heat mainly with electricity, which includes heat pumps.

Sources

Selected Housing Characteristics (DP04), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Portland city, 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 Portland city, Maine (place:60545, in state:23).

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.