How are homes heated in Northampton, MA?

Name: Heating fuel in Northampton, 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 Northampton, used by 54.6% (±3.6 points) of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

22.7% heat with electricity.

12.4% heat with fuel oil or kerosene.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Utility gas: 54.6% (±3.6 points)
Electricity: 22.7%
Fuel oil, kerosene: 12.4%

Heating fuel in Northampton

Occupied housing units by house heating fuel, 2020–2024
Fuel used most	Northampton	Hampshire County	Massachusetts	United States
Utility gas	54.6% (±3.6 points)	30.9%	51.6%	46.5%
Fuel oil, kerosene, etc.	12.4% (±1.8 points)	30.1%	22.4%	3.9%
Electricity	22.7% (±2.8 points)	21.2%	18.6%	41.3%
Bottled or tank gas (propane)	5.8% (±1.8 points)	10.4%	4.5%	4.9%
Wood	1.7% (±0.9 points)	4.6%	1.1%	1.4%
Solar energy	1.0% (±0.6 points)	0.7%	0.2%	0.3%
Coal or coke	0.1% (±0.2 points)	0.1%	0.0%	0.1%
Other fuel	1.6% (±1.0 points)	1.8%	0.8%	0.5%
No fuel used	0.2% (±0.2 points)	0.3%	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 Northampton, the share of homes heating with fuel oil is lower than in Hampshire County (30.1%).

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

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

In Northampton, the share of homes heating with electricity is not measurably different from Hampshire County (21.2%).

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

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

Homes heated by electricity in places near Northampton

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Northampton
Place	Distance	Homes heated by electricity	Compared with this place
Northampton	—	22.7% (±2.8 points)	—
Easthampton	4.3 mi	24.1% (±4.3 points)	Not measurably different
Hatfield (community)	4.8 mi	8.9% (±5.4 points)	Lower
Hatfield	5.2 mi	17.4% (±8.8 points)	Not measurably different
Westhampton	5.4 mi	7.1% (±2.9 points)	Lower
Hadley	5.8 mi	12.9% (±5.8 points)	Lower
Williamsburg	6.0 mi	11.9% (±5.4 points)	Lower
South Hadley	6.9 mi	22.6% (±4.5 points)	Not measurably different
Whately	7.4 mi	9.6% (±5.0 points)	Lower

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Hatfield (community), MA (8.9%), Westhampton, MA (7.1%), Hadley, MA (12.9%).

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

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

Rank	Place	Homes heated by fuel oil
14	Cummington	29.1% (±6.4 points)
15	Worthington	28.7% (±7.9 points)
16	Easthampton	25.6% (±4.7 points)
17	Amherst Town	23.8% (±3.4 points)
18	South Hadley	22.0% (±4.2 points)
19	Plainfield	19.1% (±7.3 points)
20	Northampton	12.4% (±1.8 points)

Showing 7 of 20 places in Hampshire 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 Northampton

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

Utility gas is the most common heating fuel in Northampton, used by 54.6% of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

How many homes in Northampton heat with oil?

12.4% (±1.8 points) of occupied homes in Northampton use fuel oil or kerosene as their main heating fuel.

How many homes in Northampton have electric heat?

22.7% (±2.8 points) of occupied homes in Northampton heat mainly with electricity, which includes heat pumps.

Sources

Selected Housing Characteristics (DP04), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Northampton 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 Northampton city, Massachusetts (place:46330, 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.