How are homes heated in Orleans, MA?

Name: Heating fuel in Orleans, 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 Orleans, used by 42.0% (±6.9 points) of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

12.8% heat with electricity.

37.7% heat with fuel oil or kerosene.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Utility gas: 42.0% (±6.9 points)
Electricity: 12.8%
Fuel oil, kerosene: 37.7%

Heating fuel in Orleans

Occupied housing units by house heating fuel, 2020–2024
Fuel used most	Orleans	Barnstable County	Massachusetts	United States
Utility gas	42.0% (±6.9 points)	61.3%	51.6%	46.5%
Fuel oil, kerosene, etc.	37.7% (±7.0 points)	18.9%	22.4%	3.9%
Electricity	12.8% (±3.6 points)	12.9%	18.6%	41.3%
Bottled or tank gas (propane)	4.3% (±1.9 points)	4.6%	4.5%	4.9%
Wood	0.0% (±1.3 points)	0.9%	1.1%	1.4%
Solar energy	1.7% (±1.8 points)	0.5%	0.2%	0.3%
Coal or coke	0.0% (±1.3 points)	0.0%	0.0%	0.1%
Other fuel	1.2% (±0.9 points)	0.4%	0.8%	0.5%
No fuel used	0.3% (±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 Orleans, the share of homes heating with fuel oil is higher than in Barnstable County (18.9%).

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

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

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

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 Orleans

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Orleans
Place	Distance	Homes heated by electricity	Compared with this place
Orleans	—	12.8% (±3.6 points)	—
North Eastham	5.1 mi	9.5% (±6.6 points)	Not measurably different
East Harwich	5.2 mi	2.5% (±1.8 points)	Lower
Brewster	5.3 mi	15.5% (±4.6 points)	Not measurably different
Eastham	5.4 mi	16.4% (±5.8 points)	Not measurably different
Brewster (community)	5.4 mi	10.2% (±7.0 points)	Not measurably different
West Chatham	6.0 mi	12.9% (±9.7 points)	Not measurably different
Chatham (community)	6.3 mi	16.1% (±7.4 points)	Not measurably different
Harwich	7.2 mi	9.1% (±2.6 points)	Not measurably different

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

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
1	Wellfleet	44.2% (±7.9 points)
2	Orleans	37.7% (±7.0 points)
3	Eastham	37.5% (±6.9 points)
4	Brewster	34.9% (±6.3 points)
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)

Showing 8 of 15 places in Barnstable County, ranked from highest to lowest.

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

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 Orleans

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

Utility gas is the most common heating fuel in Orleans, used by 42.0% of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

How many homes in Orleans heat with oil?

37.7% (±7.0 points) of occupied homes in Orleans use fuel oil or kerosene as their main heating fuel.

How many homes in Orleans have electric heat?

12.8% (±3.6 points) of occupied homes in Orleans heat mainly with electricity, which includes heat pumps.

Sources

Selected Housing Characteristics (DP04), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Orleans 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 Orleans town, Barnstable County, Massachusetts (county subdivision:51440, 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.