How are homes heated in Chester, MA?
Fuel oil or kerosene is the most common heating fuel in Chester, used by 50.4% (±10.4 points) of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).
1.4% heat with utility gas.
6.0% heat with electricity.
Figures last updated on .
- Utility gas
- 1.4% (±1.0 points)
- Electricity
- 6.0%
- Fuel oil, kerosene
- 50.4%
Heating fuel in Chester
| Fuel used most | Chester | Hampden County | Massachusetts | United States |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Utility gas | 1.4% (±1.0 points) | 49.2% | 51.6% | 46.5% |
| Fuel oil, kerosene, etc. | 50.4% (±10.4 points) | 22.3% | 22.4% | 3.9% |
| Electricity | 6.0% (±4.7 points) | 20.5% | 18.6% | 41.3% |
| Bottled or tank gas (propane) | 13.4% (±5.0 points) | 3.9% | 4.5% | 4.9% |
| Wood | 19.1% (±6.2 points) | 1.3% | 1.1% | 1.4% |
| Solar energy | 1.2% (±1.1 points) | 0.3% | 0.2% | 0.3% |
| Coal or coke | 0.0% (±8.4 points) | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.1% |
| Other fuel | 8.4% (±6.8 points) | 0.8% | 0.8% | 0.5% |
| No fuel used | 0.0% (±8.4 points) | 1.6% | 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 Chester, the share of homes heating with fuel oil is higher than in Hampden County (22.3%).
It is also higher than in Massachusetts (22.4%).
It is higher than the national figure (3.9%).
In Chester, the share of homes heating with electricity is lower than in Hampden County (20.5%).
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 Chester
| Place | Distance | Homes heated by electricity | Compared with this place |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chester | — | 6.0% (±4.7 points) | — |
| Huntington | 3.8 mi | 3.2% (±2.5 points) | Not measurably different |
| Blandford | 5.6 mi | 6.6% (±3.8 points) | Not measurably different |
| Montgomery | 6.1 mi | 9.9% (±5.5 points) | Not measurably different |
| Becket | 7.8 mi | 5.6% (±2.9 points) | Not measurably different |
| Middlefield | 8.1 mi | 2.0% (±2.5 points) | Not measurably different |
| Russell | 8.6 mi | 13.1% (±8.1 points) | Not measurably different |
| Westhampton | 8.6 mi | 7.1% (±2.9 points) | Not measurably different |
| Chesterfield | 8.8 mi | 6.6% (±4.2 points) | Not measurably different |
None of the nearby places differs measurably from this one on this figure.
Distance is measured in a straight line between the Census Bureau’s internal points for each place.
Homes heated by fuel oil across Hampden County, place by place
| Rank | Place | Homes heated by fuel oil |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | Montgomery | 54.6% (±8.6 points) |
| 5 | Holland | 53.4% (±6.8 points) |
| 6 | Monson | 53.2% (±6.5 points) |
| 7 | Granville | 52.5% (±7.8 points) |
| 8 | Wales | 51.6% (±7.6 points) |
| 9 (tie) | Brimfield | 50.4% (±9.9 points) |
| 9 (tie) | Chester | 50.4% (±10.4 points) |
| 11 | Southwick | 47.9% (±6.9 points) |
| 12 | Hampden | 39.5% (±6.4 points) |
| 13 | Wilbraham | 39.2% (±5.6 points) |
| 14 | Tolland | 38.6% (±9.7 points) |
| 15 | Ludlow | 34.7% (±5.4 points) |
| 16 | Westfield | 25.2% (±2.7 points) |
Showing 13 of 23 places in Hampden 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 Chester
What is the most common way to heat a home in Chester?
Fuel oil or kerosene is the most common heating fuel in Chester, used by 50.4% of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).
How many homes in Chester heat with oil?
50.4% (±10.4 points) of occupied homes in Chester use fuel oil or kerosene as their main heating fuel.
How many homes in Chester have electric heat?
6.0% (±4.7 points) of occupied homes in Chester heat mainly with electricity, which includes heat pumps.
Sources
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 Chester town, Hampden County, Massachusetts (county subdivision:13485, in state:25 county:013).
Each estimate (E or PE) has a margin of error beside it (M or PM).
The API needs a free 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.
Figures last updated on .
Related
- Housing in Chester at a glance
- Renters and owners in Chester
- Income and affordability in Chester
- Home values in Chester
- Homeowner costs in Chester
- Property taxes in Chester
- Types of homes in Chester
- Bedrooms in Chester
- Age of homes in Chester
- Commute and cars in Chester
- Crime reported to police in Chester
- Population growth in Chester
- Massachusetts landlord and tenant rules
- Housing across Hampden County
- Housing data for every place in Massachusetts