How are homes heated in Chelmsford, MA?

Name: Heating fuel in Chelmsford, 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 Chelmsford, used by 77.1% (±2.5 points) of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

10.5% heat with electricity.

7.9% heat with fuel oil or kerosene.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Utility gas: 77.1% (±2.5 points)
Electricity: 10.5%
Fuel oil, kerosene: 7.9%

Heating fuel in Chelmsford

Occupied housing units by house heating fuel, 2020–2024
Fuel used most	Chelmsford	Middlesex County	Massachusetts	United States
Utility gas	77.1% (±2.5 points)	59.3%	51.6%	46.5%
Fuel oil, kerosene, etc.	7.9% (±1.9 points)	17.9%	22.4%	3.9%
Electricity	10.5% (±1.5 points)	17.7%	18.6%	41.3%
Bottled or tank gas (propane)	2.3% (±1.0 points)	3.3%	4.5%	4.9%
Wood	0.3% (±0.3 points)	0.3%	1.1%	1.4%
Solar energy	0.1% (±0.2 points)	0.2%	0.2%	0.3%
Coal or coke	0.0% (±0.3 points)	0.1%	0.0%	0.1%
Other fuel	1.0% (±0.6 points)	0.6%	0.8%	0.5%
No fuel used	0.8% (±0.7 points)	0.6%	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 Chelmsford, the share of homes heating with fuel oil is lower than in Middlesex County (17.9%).

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

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

In Chelmsford, the share of homes heating with electricity is lower than in Middlesex County (17.7%).

It is also lower than in Massachusetts (18.6%).

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

Homes heated by electricity in places near Chelmsford

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Chelmsford
Place	Distance	Homes heated by electricity	Compared with this place
Chelmsford	—	10.5% (±1.5 points)	—
Westford	3.7 mi	9.2% (±2.4 points)	Not measurably different
Lowell	3.8 mi	24.3% (±1.7 points)	Higher
Carlisle	4.2 mi	12.3% (±4.5 points)	Not measurably different
Tyngsborough	5.7 mi	11.0% (±4.9 points)	Not measurably different
Billerica	6.1 mi	7.7% (±1.8 points)	Lower
Dracut	6.7 mi	12.1% (±2.5 points)	Not measurably different
Littleton Common	6.8 mi	5.6% (±2.7 points)	Lower
Tewksbury	7.3 mi	10.1% (±2.1 points)	Not measurably different

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Billerica, MA (7.7%), Littleton Common, MA (5.6%).

Nearby places with a measurably higher figure: Lowell, MA (24.3%).

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

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

Rank	Place	Homes heated by fuel oil
45	Newton	12.7% (±1.2 points)
46	Watertown	12.6% (±1.9 points)
47	Everett	12.0% (±2.1 points)
48	Marlborough	11.2% (±2.1 points)
49	Hudson	11.0% (±2.3 points)
50	Malden	9.8% (±1.5 points)
51	Chelmsford	7.9% (±1.9 points)
52	Somerville	6.2% (±0.9 points)
53	Lowell	4.7% (±0.7 points)
54	Cambridge	3.6% (±0.6 points)

Showing 10 of 54 places in Middlesex 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 Chelmsford

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

Utility gas is the most common heating fuel in Chelmsford, used by 77.1% of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

How many homes in Chelmsford heat with oil?

7.9% (±1.9 points) of occupied homes in Chelmsford use fuel oil or kerosene as their main heating fuel.

How many homes in Chelmsford have electric heat?

10.5% (±1.5 points) of occupied homes in Chelmsford heat mainly with electricity, which includes heat pumps.

Sources

Selected Housing Characteristics (DP04), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Chelmsford town, Middlesex 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 Chelmsford town, Middlesex County, Massachusetts (county subdivision:13135, in state:25 county:017).

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.