How are homes heated in Sanford, ME?

Name: Heating fuel in Sanford, 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 Sanford, used by 62.6% (±3.8 points) of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

3.9% heat with utility gas.

11.9% heat with electricity.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Utility gas: 3.9% (±1.4 points)
Electricity: 11.9%
Fuel oil, kerosene: 62.6%

Heating fuel in Sanford

Occupied housing units by house heating fuel, 2020–2024
Fuel used most	Sanford	York County	Maine	United States
Utility gas	3.9% (±1.4 points)	4.4%	8.3%	46.5%
Fuel oil, kerosene, etc.	62.6% (±3.8 points)	60.5%	55.3%	3.9%
Electricity	11.9% (±2.6 points)	10.4%	11.2%	41.3%
Bottled or tank gas (propane)	13.1% (±2.8 points)	16.5%	13.8%	4.9%
Wood	5.3% (±2.1 points)	5.7%	8.8%	1.4%
Solar energy	0.1% (±0.1 points)	0.2%	0.4%	0.3%
Coal or coke	0.0% (±0.3 points)	0.1%	0.1%	0.1%
Other fuel	2.9% (±2.3 points)	1.9%	1.7%	0.5%
No fuel used	0.1% (±0.2 points)	0.2%	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 Sanford, the share of homes heating with fuel oil is not measurably different from York County (60.5%).

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

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

In Sanford, the share of homes heating with electricity is not measurably different from York County (10.4%).

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 Sanford

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Sanford
Place	Distance	Homes heated by electricity	Compared with this place
Sanford	—	11.9% (±2.6 points)	—
Alfred	4.1 mi	5.7% (±4.2 points)	Lower
North Berwick	5.1 mi	6.3% (±3.6 points)	Lower
Lyman	7.6 mi	3.8% (±2.7 points)	Lower
Lebanon	8.0 mi	1.3% (±1.5 points)	Lower
West Kennebunk	8.9 mi	5.2% (±5.0 points)	Lower
North Berwick (community)	8.9 mi	5.8% (±5.8 points)	Not measurably different
Berwick	9.6 mi	7.5% (±4.3 points)	Not measurably different
Shapleigh	9.7 mi	12.3% (±7.8 points)	Not measurably different

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Alfred, ME (5.7%), North Berwick, ME (6.3%), Lyman, ME (3.8%).

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

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

Rank	Place	Homes heated by fuel oil
7	Lyman	65.3% (±8.3 points)
8	Limerick	65.1% (±8.4 points)
9	Alfred	65.0% (±9.1 points)
10	Hollis	64.6% (±7.8 points)
11	Dayton	64.3% (±7.9 points)
12	Biddeford	64.0% (±3.9 points)
13	Sanford	62.6% (±3.8 points)
14	Eliot	62.2% (±9.8 points)
15	Arundel	62.0% (±8.5 points)
16 (tie)	Saco	60.2% (±4.0 points)
16 (tie)	Kittery	60.2% (±6.4 points)
18	South Berwick	60.0% (±6.9 points)
19	Berwick	58.8% (±6.8 points)

Showing 13 of 29 places in York 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 Sanford

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

Fuel oil or kerosene is the most common heating fuel in Sanford, used by 62.6% of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

How many homes in Sanford heat with oil?

62.6% (±3.8 points) of occupied homes in Sanford use fuel oil or kerosene as their main heating fuel.

How many homes in Sanford have electric heat?

11.9% (±2.6 points) of occupied homes in Sanford heat mainly with electricity, which includes heat pumps.

Sources

Selected Housing Characteristics (DP04), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Sanford 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 Sanford city, Maine (place:65725, 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.