How are homes heated in Chatham, MA?

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

Utility gas is the most common heating fuel in Chatham, used by 68.3% (±6.3 points) of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

14.5% heat with electricity.

13.6% heat with fuel oil or kerosene.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Utility gas: 68.3% (±6.3 points)
Electricity: 14.5%
Fuel oil, kerosene: 13.6%

Heating fuel in Chatham

Occupied housing units by house heating fuel, 2020–2024
Fuel used most	Chatham	Barnstable County	Massachusetts	United States
Utility gas	68.3% (±6.3 points)	61.3%	51.6%	46.5%
Fuel oil, kerosene, etc.	13.6% (±4.0 points)	18.9%	22.4%	3.9%
Electricity	14.5% (±4.6 points)	12.9%	18.6%	41.3%
Bottled or tank gas (propane)	3.4% (±2.6 points)	4.6%	4.5%	4.9%
Wood	0.2% (±0.3 points)	0.9%	1.1%	1.4%
Solar energy	0.0% (±1.3 points)	0.5%	0.2%	0.3%
Coal or coke	0.0% (±1.3 points)	0.0%	0.0%	0.1%
Other fuel	0.0% (±1.3 points)	0.4%	0.8%	0.5%
No fuel used	0.0% (±1.3 points)	0.4%	0.7%	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 Chatham, the share of homes heating with fuel oil is lower than in Barnstable County (18.9%).

It is also lower than in Massachusetts (22.4%).

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

In Chatham, the share of homes heating with electricity is not measurably different from Barnstable County (12.9%).

It is not measurably different from Massachusetts (18.6%).

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

Homes heated by electricity in places near Chatham

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Chatham
Place	Distance	Homes heated by electricity	Compared with this place
Chatham	—	14.5% (±4.6 points)	—
Harwich Port	5.6 mi	8.8% (±5.5 points)	Not measurably different
Harwich Center	6.5 mi	21.2% (±10.7 points)	Not measurably different
East Harwich	6.5 mi	2.5% (±1.8 points)	Lower
Harwich	6.9 mi	9.1% (±2.6 points)	Lower
Northwest Harwich	8.1 mi	13.6% (±6.4 points)	Not measurably different
Dennis Port	8.6 mi	18.4% (±6.1 points)	Not measurably different
Brewster	9.7 mi	15.5% (±4.6 points)	Not measurably different
Orleans	10.0 mi	12.8% (±3.6 points)	Not measurably different

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: East Harwich, MA (2.5%), Harwich, MA (9.1%).

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

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

Rank	Place	Homes heated by fuel oil
5	Sandwich	27.6% (±4.5 points)
6	Falmouth	25.3% (±2.9 points)
7	Truro	24.1% (±10.2 points)
8	Provincetown	21.1% (±8.1 points)
9	Bourne	20.8% (±3.3 points)
10	Harwich	15.5% (±3.3 points)
11	Chatham	13.6% (±4.0 points)
12	Barnstable Town	11.4% (±1.9 points)
13	Dennis	10.3% (±2.6 points)
14	Yarmouth	10.2% (±2.6 points)
15	Mashpee	9.5% (±2.8 points)

Showing 11 of 15 places in Barnstable County, ranked from highest to lowest.

The figures for Chatham include the places inside it that have pages of their own: Chatham (community), West Chatham.

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 Chatham

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

Utility gas is the most common heating fuel in Chatham, used by 68.3% of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

How many homes in Chatham heat with oil?

13.6% (±4.0 points) of occupied homes in Chatham use fuel oil or kerosene as their main heating fuel.

How many homes in Chatham have electric heat?

14.5% (±4.6 points) of occupied homes in Chatham heat mainly with electricity, which includes heat pumps.

Sources

Selected Housing Characteristics (DP04), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Chatham town, Barnstable County, Massachusetts

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 Chatham town, Barnstable County, Massachusetts (county subdivision:12995, in state:25 county:001).

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.