How are homes heated in Columbia, MD?

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

Electricity is the most common heating fuel in Columbia, used by 55.5% (±1.9 points) of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

41.5% heat with utility gas.

1.2% heat with fuel oil or kerosene.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Utility gas: 41.5% (±2.0 points)
Electricity: 55.5%
Fuel oil, kerosene: 1.2%

Heating fuel in Columbia

Occupied housing units by house heating fuel, 2020–2024
Fuel used most	Columbia	Howard County	Maryland	United States
Utility gas	41.5% (±2.0 points)	41.9%	43.1%	46.5%
Fuel oil, kerosene, etc.	1.2% (±0.4 points)	4.1%	6.6%	3.9%
Electricity	55.5% (±1.9 points)	49.9%	44.1%	41.3%
Bottled or tank gas (propane)	0.6% (±0.3 points)	2.5%	3.8%	4.9%
Wood	0.3% (±0.2 points)	0.4%	1.0%	1.4%
Solar energy	0.2% (±0.2 points)	0.5%	0.4%	0.3%
Coal or coke	0.0% (±0.1 points)	0.0%	0.1%	0.1%
Other fuel	0.2% (±0.1 points)	0.4%	0.5%	0.5%
No fuel used	0.5% (±0.3 points)	0.3%	0.6%	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 Columbia, the share of homes heating with fuel oil is lower than in Howard County (4.1%).

It is also lower than in Maryland (6.6%).

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

In Columbia, the share of homes heating with electricity is higher than in Howard County (49.9%).

It is also higher than in Maryland (44.1%).

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

Homes heated by electricity in places near Columbia

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Columbia
Place	Distance	Homes heated by electricity	Compared with this place
Columbia	—	55.5% (±1.9 points)	—
Savage	4.3 mi	71.2% (±8.8 points)	Higher
Fulton	4.4 mi	25.7% (±7.1 points)	Lower
Scaggsville	4.4 mi	49.3% (±7.3 points)	Not measurably different
North Laurel	5.0 mi	56.6% (±4.7 points)	Not measurably different
Ilchester	5.3 mi	46.7% (±3.3 points)	Lower
Ellicott City	5.4 mi	41.1% (±2.6 points)	Lower
Jessup	5.7 mi	32.3% (±9.1 points)	Lower
West Laurel	6.2 mi	22.0% (±8.2 points)	Lower

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Fulton, MD (25.7%), Ilchester, MD (46.7%), Ellicott City, MD (41.1%).

Nearby places with a measurably higher figure: Savage, MD (71.2%).

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

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

Rank	Place	Homes heated by fuel oil
1	Savage	4.9% (±2.9 points)
2	Scaggsville	4.8% (±2.0 points)
3	North Laurel	3.9% (±1.7 points)
4	Ellicott City	2.9% (±0.6 points)
5	Ilchester	2.3% (±1.0 points)
6	Elkridge	1.4% (±0.8 points)
7	Columbia	1.2% (±0.4 points)
8	Fulton	1.1% (±1.7 points)

Columbia is a census-designated place: an unincorporated community the Census Bureau draws for statistics, with no municipal government of its own.

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 Columbia

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 Columbia, 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 Columbia beside you.

Create a landlord account · See what landlords get

Looking for a place to rent?

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

Browse rentals · Create a renter account

Questions about Columbia

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

Electricity is the most common heating fuel in Columbia, used by 55.5% of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

How many homes in Columbia heat with oil?

1.2% (±0.4 points) of occupied homes in Columbia use fuel oil or kerosene as their main heating fuel.

How many homes in Columbia have electric heat?

55.5% (±1.9 points) of occupied homes in Columbia heat mainly with electricity, which includes heat pumps.

Sources

Selected Housing Characteristics (DP04), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Columbia CDP, Maryland

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 Columbia CDP, Maryland (place:19125, in state:24).

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.