How are homes heated in New Bedford, MA?

Name: Heating fuel in New Bedford, 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 New Bedford, used by 78.9% (±1.4 points) of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

10.5% heat with electricity.

6.8% heat with fuel oil or kerosene.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Utility gas: 78.9% (±1.4 points)
Electricity: 10.5%
Fuel oil, kerosene: 6.8%

Heating fuel in New Bedford

Occupied housing units by house heating fuel, 2020–2024
Fuel used most	New Bedford	Bristol County	Massachusetts	United States
Utility gas	78.9% (±1.4 points)	57.2%	51.6%	46.5%
Fuel oil, kerosene, etc.	6.8% (±0.9 points)	23.0%	22.4%	3.9%
Electricity	10.5% (±1.2 points)	12.7%	18.6%	41.3%
Bottled or tank gas (propane)	2.3% (±0.5 points)	4.4%	4.5%	4.9%
Wood	0.2% (±0.1 points)	1.1%	1.1%	1.4%
Solar energy	0.4% (±0.2 points)	0.4%	0.2%	0.3%
Coal or coke	0.0% (±0.1 points)	0.0%	0.0%	0.1%
Other fuel	0.1% (±0.1 points)	0.8%	0.8%	0.5%
No fuel used	0.8% (±0.5 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 New Bedford, the share of homes heating with fuel oil is lower than in Bristol County (23.0%).

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

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

In New Bedford, the share of homes heating with electricity is lower than in Bristol County (12.7%).

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 New Bedford

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with New Bedford
Place	Distance	Homes heated by electricity	Compared with this place
New Bedford	—	10.5% (±1.2 points)	—
Acushnet Center	2.3 mi	2.4% (±2.4 points)	Lower
Smith Mills	3.3 mi	11.5% (±6.9 points)	Not measurably different
Bliss Corner	3.9 mi	5.6% (±3.5 points)	Lower
Fairhaven	3.9 mi	7.6% (±2.3 points)	Lower
Acushnet	4.4 mi	3.6% (±2.0 points)	Lower
Mattapoisett	6.5 mi	5.7% (±3.0 points)	Lower
Dartmouth	6.6 mi	7.9% (±1.8 points)	Lower
Mattapoisett Center	7.2 mi	8.8% (±5.7 points)	Not measurably different

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Acushnet Center, MA (2.4%), Bliss Corner, MA (5.6%), Fairhaven, MA (7.6%).

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

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

Rank	Place	Homes heated by fuel oil
13	Taunton	26.7% (±2.6 points)
14	Westport	24.4% (±4.0 points)
15	Mansfield	21.5% (±2.9 points)
16	Somerset	17.1% (±4.6 points)
17	Swansea	17.0% (±3.6 points)
18	Fairhaven	13.8% (±2.9 points)
19	New Bedford	6.8% (±0.9 points)
20	Fall River	4.7% (±0.8 points)

Showing 8 of 20 places in Bristol 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 New Bedford

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

Utility gas is the most common heating fuel in New Bedford, used by 78.9% of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

How many homes in New Bedford heat with oil?

6.8% (±0.9 points) of occupied homes in New Bedford use fuel oil or kerosene as their main heating fuel.

How many homes in New Bedford have electric heat?

10.5% (±1.2 points) of occupied homes in New Bedford heat mainly with electricity, which includes heat pumps.

Sources

Selected Housing Characteristics (DP04), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — New Bedford city, 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 New Bedford city, Massachusetts (place:45000, in state:25).

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.