How are homes heated in Scarborough, ME?

Name: Heating fuel in Scarborough, 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 Scarborough, used by 47.9% (±4.8 points) of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

13.3% heat with utility gas.

14.8% heat with electricity.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Utility gas: 13.3% (±3.3 points)
Electricity: 14.8%
Fuel oil, kerosene: 47.9%

Heating fuel in Scarborough

Occupied housing units by house heating fuel, 2020–2024
Fuel used most	Scarborough	Cumberland County	Maine	United States
Utility gas	13.3% (±3.3 points)	20.1%	8.3%	46.5%
Fuel oil, kerosene, etc.	47.9% (±4.8 points)	45.6%	55.3%	3.9%
Electricity	14.8% (±4.7 points)	14.5%	11.2%	41.3%
Bottled or tank gas (propane)	18.7% (±3.3 points)	13.5%	13.8%	4.9%
Wood	2.4% (±1.3 points)	3.4%	8.8%	1.4%
Solar energy	1.5% (±0.9 points)	0.6%	0.4%	0.3%
Coal or coke	0.0% (±0.3 points)	0.0%	0.1%	0.1%
Other fuel	1.2% (±0.9 points)	1.6%	1.7%	0.5%
No fuel used	0.2% (±0.3 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 Scarborough, the share of homes heating with fuel oil is not measurably different from Cumberland County (45.6%).

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

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

In Scarborough, the share of homes heating with electricity is not measurably different from Cumberland County (14.5%).

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 Scarborough

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Scarborough
Place	Distance	Homes heated by electricity	Compared with this place
Scarborough	—	14.8% (±4.7 points)	—
Old Orchard Beach (community)	2.8 mi	18.5% (±5.0 points)	Not measurably different
Old Orchard Beach	2.8 mi	18.5% (±5.0 points)	Not measurably different
South Portland	4.8 mi	18.1% (±2.7 points)	Not measurably different
Saco	5.2 mi	14.4% (±3.0 points)	Not measurably different
Cape Elizabeth	6.5 mi	11.6% (±4.1 points)	Not measurably different
Portland	8.6 mi	21.5% (±1.5 points)	Higher
Westbrook	9.5 mi	17.3% (±3.9 points)	Not measurably different
Biddeford	9.6 mi	12.3% (±3.2 points)	Not measurably different

Nearby places with a measurably higher figure: Portland, ME (21.5%).

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
13	Bridgton	52.1% (±9.7 points)
14	Raymond	51.4% (±9.1 points)
15	Harrison	50.1% (±10.0 points)
16	Cumberland	49.8% (±5.0 points)
17 (tie)	Westbrook	48.9% (±4.1 points)
17 (tie)	Sebago	48.9% (±10.6 points)
19	Scarborough	47.9% (±4.8 points)
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)

Showing 13 of 28 places in Cumberland County, ranked from highest to lowest.

The figures for Scarborough include the places inside it that have pages of their own: Dunstan, Oak Hill.

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 Scarborough

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 Scarborough, 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 Scarborough beside you.

Create a landlord account · See what landlords get

Looking for a place to rent?

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

Browse rentals · Create a renter account

Questions about Scarborough

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

Fuel oil or kerosene is the most common heating fuel in Scarborough, used by 47.9% of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

How many homes in Scarborough heat with oil?

47.9% (±4.8 points) of occupied homes in Scarborough use fuel oil or kerosene as their main heating fuel.

How many homes in Scarborough have electric heat?

14.8% (±4.7 points) of occupied homes in Scarborough heat mainly with electricity, which includes heat pumps.

Sources

Selected Housing Characteristics (DP04), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Scarborough town, Cumberland 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 Scarborough town, Cumberland County, Maine (county subdivision:66145, in state:23 county:005).

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.