How are homes heated in Petersham, MA?

Name: Heating fuel in Petersham, MA, 2020–2024
Creator: US Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

Fuel oil or kerosene is the most common heating fuel in Petersham, used by 63.4% (±7.0 points) of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

0.9% heat with utility gas.

7.3% heat with electricity.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Utility gas: 0.9% (±1.2 points)
Electricity: 7.3%
Fuel oil, kerosene: 63.4%

Heating fuel in Petersham

Occupied housing units by house heating fuel, 2020–2024
Fuel used most	Petersham	Worcester County	Massachusetts	United States
Utility gas	0.9% (±1.2 points)	32.4%	51.6%	46.5%
Fuel oil, kerosene, etc.	63.4% (±7.0 points)	37.9%	22.4%	3.9%
Electricity	7.3% (±3.8 points)	19.6%	18.6%	41.3%
Bottled or tank gas (propane)	11.6% (±4.8 points)	5.6%	4.5%	4.9%
Wood	12.8% (±4.1 points)	2.3%	1.1%	1.4%
Solar energy	1.1% (±1.3 points)	0.3%	0.2%	0.3%
Coal or coke	0.0% (±8.7 points)	0.1%	0.0%	0.1%
Other fuel	3.0% (±2.6 points)	1.4%	0.8%	0.5%
No fuel used	0.0% (±8.7 points)	0.5%	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 Petersham, the share of homes heating with fuel oil is higher than in Worcester County (37.9%).

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

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

In Petersham, the share of homes heating with electricity is lower than in Worcester County (19.6%).

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 Petersham

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Petersham
Place	Distance	Homes heated by electricity	Compared with this place
Petersham	—	7.3% (±3.8 points)	—
New Salem	5.7 mi	6.4% (±3.6 points)	Not measurably different
Barre	6.0 mi	7.2% (±5.6 points)	Not measurably different
Hardwick	7.3 mi	15.3% (±5.9 points)	Higher
Phillipston	7.5 mi	10.6% (±4.7 points)	Not measurably different
Athol	8.1 mi	10.1% (±2.8 points)	Not measurably different
Athol (community)	9.3 mi	12.0% (±3.9 points)	Not measurably different
New Braintree	10 mi	6.8% (±4.4 points)	Not measurably different
Templeton	10 mi	8.1% (±3.1 points)	Not measurably different

Nearby places with a measurably higher figure: Hardwick, MA (15.3%).

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

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

Rank	Place	Homes heated by fuel oil
9	Sterling	66.1% (±8.4 points)
10	Sutton	65.4% (±5.6 points)
11	Hopedale	65.2% (±7.1 points)
12	Bolton	65.0% (±7.4 points)
13	Templeton	64.2% (±7.9 points)
14	Royalston	63.8% (±8.0 points)
15	Petersham	63.4% (±7.0 points)
16	Boylston	60.8% (±7.4 points)
17	Holden	60.7% (±4.3 points)
18	Hardwick	60.6% (±8.0 points)
19	Oakham	60.0% (±5.8 points)
20	Douglas	59.4% (±7.4 points)
21	Sturbridge	59.0% (±5.1 points)

Showing 13 of 60 places in Worcester 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 Petersham

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

Fuel oil or kerosene is the most common heating fuel in Petersham, used by 63.4% of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

How many homes in Petersham heat with oil?

63.4% (±7.0 points) of occupied homes in Petersham use fuel oil or kerosene as their main heating fuel.

How many homes in Petersham have electric heat?

7.3% (±3.8 points) of occupied homes in Petersham heat mainly with electricity, which includes heat pumps.

Sources

Selected Housing Characteristics (DP04), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Petersham town, Worcester 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 Petersham town, Worcester County, Massachusetts (county subdivision:53120, in state:25 county:027).

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.