How are homes heated in South Portland, ME?

Name: Heating fuel in South Portland, 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 South Portland, used by 37.6% (±3.4 points) of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

34.2% heat with utility gas.

18.1% heat with electricity.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Utility gas: 34.2% (±3.4 points)
Electricity: 18.1%
Fuel oil, kerosene: 37.6%

Heating fuel in South Portland

Occupied housing units by house heating fuel, 2020–2024
Fuel used most	South Portland	Cumberland County	Maine	United States
Utility gas	34.2% (±3.4 points)	20.1%	8.3%	46.5%
Fuel oil, kerosene, etc.	37.6% (±3.4 points)	45.6%	55.3%	3.9%
Electricity	18.1% (±2.7 points)	14.5%	11.2%	41.3%
Bottled or tank gas (propane)	4.5% (±1.2 points)	13.5%	13.8%	4.9%
Wood	0.7% (±0.4 points)	3.4%	8.8%	1.4%
Solar energy	0.3% (±0.3 points)	0.6%	0.4%	0.3%
Coal or coke	0.0% (±0.2 points)	0.0%	0.1%	0.1%
Other fuel	2.4% (±1.4 points)	1.6%	1.7%	0.5%
No fuel used	2.2% (±1.7 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 South 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 South 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 South Portland

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with South Portland
Place	Distance	Homes heated by electricity	Compared with this place
South Portland	—	18.1% (±2.7 points)	—
Oak Hill	3.7 mi	10.9% (±4.9 points)	Lower
Scarborough	4.8 mi	14.8% (±4.7 points)	Not measurably different
Portland	5.0 mi	21.5% (±1.5 points)	Higher
Cape Elizabeth	6.1 mi	11.6% (±4.1 points)	Lower
Westbrook	6.2 mi	17.3% (±3.9 points)	Not measurably different
Falmouth (community)	6.5 mi	16.3% (±8.0 points)	Not measurably different
Dunstan	6.6 mi	17.3% (±10.3 points)	Not measurably different
Long Island	7.3 mi	23.1% (±11.1 points)	Not measurably different

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

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
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)
26	Portland	30.9% (±2.3 points)
27	Long Island	30.8% (±14.9 points)
28	Frye Island	5.9% (±16.7 points)

Showing 10 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.

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Questions about South Portland

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

Fuel oil or kerosene is the most common heating fuel in South Portland, used by 37.6% of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

How many homes in South Portland heat with oil?

37.6% (±3.4 points) of occupied homes in South Portland use fuel oil or kerosene as their main heating fuel.

How many homes in South Portland have electric heat?

18.1% (±2.7 points) of occupied homes in South Portland heat mainly with electricity, which includes heat pumps.

Sources

Selected Housing Characteristics (DP04), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — South 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 South Portland city, Maine (place:71990, 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.