How are homes heated in Richmond, MA?

Name: Heating fuel in Richmond, 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 Richmond, used by 53.9% (±7.1 points) of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

3.5% heat with utility gas.

8.9% heat with electricity.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Utility gas: 3.5% (±2.3 points)
Electricity: 8.9%
Fuel oil, kerosene: 53.9%

Heating fuel in Richmond

Occupied housing units by house heating fuel, 2020–2024
Fuel used most	Richmond	Berkshire County	Massachusetts	United States
Utility gas	3.5% (±2.3 points)	43.2%	51.6%	46.5%
Fuel oil, kerosene, etc.	53.9% (±7.1 points)	30.0%	22.4%	3.9%
Electricity	8.9% (±4.6 points)	10.8%	18.6%	41.3%
Bottled or tank gas (propane)	21.9% (±6.0 points)	10.1%	4.5%	4.9%
Wood	10.5% (±4.1 points)	3.6%	1.1%	1.4%
Solar energy	0.6% (±0.8 points)	0.5%	0.2%	0.3%
Coal or coke	0.0% (±6.6 points)	0.2%	0.0%	0.1%
Other fuel	0.6% (±0.8 points)	1.1%	0.8%	0.5%
No fuel used	0.0% (±6.6 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 Richmond, the share of homes heating with fuel oil is higher than in Berkshire County (30.0%).

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

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

In Richmond, the share of homes heating with electricity is not measurably different from Berkshire County (10.8%).

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 Richmond

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Richmond
Place	Distance	Homes heated by electricity	Compared with this place
Richmond	—	8.9% (±4.6 points)	—
Lenox (community)	4.0 mi	13.8% (±8.2 points)	Not measurably different
Lenox	4.7 mi	12.9% (±6.4 points)	Not measurably different
West Stockbridge	5.1 mi	14.7% (±6.1 points)	Not measurably different
Town of Canaan	5.2 mi	7.4% (±3.9 points)	Not measurably different
Stockbridge	5.9 mi	17.3% (±9.7 points)	Not measurably different
Pittsfield	6.9 mi	10.7% (±1.8 points)	Not measurably different
Town of New Lebanon	7.4 mi	12.6% (±7.3 points)	Not measurably different
Lee (community)	7.7 mi	12.2% (±8.6 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 Berkshire County, place by place

Rank	Place	Homes heated by fuel oil
1	Clarksburg	63.8% (±6.3 points)
2	Richmond	53.9% (±7.1 points)
3	Becket	53.3% (±11.5 points)
4	Sheffield	51.3% (±10.5 points)
5	Egremont	49.9% (±10.3 points)
6	Mount Washington	44.9% (±13.6 points)
7	West Stockbridge	44.4% (±8.3 points)
8	Lanesborough	44.2% (±9.8 points)

Showing 8 of 32 places in Berkshire 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 Richmond

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

Fuel oil or kerosene is the most common heating fuel in Richmond, used by 53.9% of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

How many homes in Richmond heat with oil?

53.9% (±7.1 points) of occupied homes in Richmond use fuel oil or kerosene as their main heating fuel.

How many homes in Richmond have electric heat?

8.9% (±4.6 points) of occupied homes in Richmond heat mainly with electricity, which includes heat pumps.

Sources

Selected Housing Characteristics (DP04), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Richmond town, Berkshire 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 Richmond town, Berkshire County, Massachusetts (county subdivision:56795, in state:25 county:003).

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.