How are homes heated in West Ocean City, MD?

Name: Heating fuel in West Ocean City, 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 West Ocean City, used by 59.4% (±6.9 points) of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

19.6% heat with utility gas.

4.9% heat with fuel oil or kerosene.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Utility gas: 19.6% (±6.5 points)
Electricity: 59.4%
Fuel oil, kerosene: 4.9%

Heating fuel in West Ocean City

Occupied housing units by house heating fuel, 2020–2024
Fuel used most	West Ocean City	Worcester County	Maryland	United States
Utility gas	19.6% (±6.5 points)	15.6%	43.1%	46.5%
Fuel oil, kerosene, etc.	4.9% (±3.2 points)	5.1%	6.6%	3.9%
Electricity	59.4% (±6.9 points)	63.7%	44.1%	41.3%
Bottled or tank gas (propane)	15.6% (±7.2 points)	12.1%	3.8%	4.9%
Wood	0.4% (±0.6 points)	2.0%	1.0%	1.4%
Solar energy	0.0% (±1.9 points)	0.6%	0.4%	0.3%
Coal or coke	0.0% (±1.9 points)	0.0%	0.1%	0.1%
Other fuel	0.1% (±0.3 points)	0.5%	0.5%	0.5%
No fuel used	0.0% (±1.9 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 West Ocean City, the share of homes heating with fuel oil is not measurably different from Worcester County (5.1%).

It is not measurably different from Maryland (6.6%).

It is not measurably different from the national figure (3.9%).

In West Ocean City, the share of homes heating with electricity is not measurably different from Worcester County (63.7%).

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 West Ocean City

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with West Ocean City
Place	Distance	Homes heated by electricity	Compared with this place
West Ocean City	—	59.4% (±6.9 points)	—
Ocean Pines	3.3 mi	67.5% (±4.2 points)	Higher
Ocean City	3.8 mi	81.3% (±4.2 points)	Higher
Berlin	5.8 mi	74.3% (±7.3 points)	Higher
Fenwick Island	8.4 mi	68.3% (±9.2 points)	Not measurably different
Selbyville	9.4 mi	36.4% (±10.6 points)	Lower
South Bethany	12 mi	52.1% (±13.4 points)	Not measurably different
Ocean View	12 mi	45.4% (±8.7 points)	Lower
Millville	13 mi	53.8% (±6.8 points)	Not measurably different

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Selbyville, DE (36.4%), Ocean View, DE (45.4%).

Nearby places with a measurably higher figure: Ocean Pines, MD (67.5%), Ocean City, MD (81.3%), Berlin, MD (74.3%).

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

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

Rank	Place	Homes heated by fuel oil
1	Pocomoke City	15.5% (±8.6 points)
2	Snow Hill	11.9% (±5.2 points)
3	West Ocean City	4.9% (±3.2 points)
4	Ocean City	1.2% (±1.0 points)
5	Ocean Pines	0.7% (±0.7 points)
6	Berlin	0.5% (±0.7 points)

West Ocean City 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.

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Questions about West Ocean City

What is the most common way to heat a home in West Ocean City?

Electricity is the most common heating fuel in West Ocean City, used by 59.4% of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

How many homes in West Ocean City heat with oil?

4.9% (±3.2 points) of occupied homes in West Ocean City use fuel oil or kerosene as their main heating fuel.

How many homes in West Ocean City have electric heat?

59.4% (±6.9 points) of occupied homes in West Ocean City heat mainly with electricity, which includes heat pumps.

Sources

Selected Housing Characteristics (DP04), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — West Ocean City 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 West Ocean City CDP, Maryland (place:83225, 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.