How are homes heated in Rochester, MA?

Name: Heating fuel in Rochester, 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 Rochester, used by 55.6% (±7.7 points) of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

13.3% heat with utility gas.

7.7% heat with electricity.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Utility gas: 13.3% (±4.9 points)
Electricity: 7.7%
Fuel oil, kerosene: 55.6%

Heating fuel in Rochester

Occupied housing units by house heating fuel, 2020–2024
Fuel used most	Rochester	Plymouth County	Massachusetts	United States
Utility gas	13.3% (±4.9 points)	46.9%	51.6%	46.5%
Fuel oil, kerosene, etc.	55.6% (±7.7 points)	31.5%	22.4%	3.9%
Electricity	7.7% (±4.7 points)	12.3%	18.6%	41.3%
Bottled or tank gas (propane)	16.0% (±6.1 points)	6.8%	4.5%	4.9%
Wood	7.4% (±5.5 points)	0.9%	1.1%	1.4%
Solar energy	0.0% (±1.9 points)	0.2%	0.2%	0.3%
Coal or coke	0.0% (±1.9 points)	0.0%	0.0%	0.1%
Other fuel	0.0% (±1.9 points)	1.0%	0.8%	0.5%
No fuel used	0.0% (±1.9 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 Rochester, the share of homes heating with fuel oil is higher than in Plymouth County (31.5%).

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

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

In Rochester, the share of homes heating with electricity is not measurably different from Plymouth County (12.3%).

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 Rochester

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Rochester
Place	Distance	Homes heated by electricity	Compared with this place
Rochester	—	7.7% (±4.7 points)	—
Acushnet	4.4 mi	3.6% (±2.0 points)	Not measurably different
West Wareham	4.7 mi	10.9% (±8.9 points)	Not measurably different
Weweantic	5.2 mi	3.6% (±4.6 points)	Not measurably different
Marion	5.9 mi	3.5% (±3.5 points)	Not measurably different
Marion Center	6.2 mi	0.0% (±8.4 points)	Not measurably different
Wareham Center	6.2 mi	19.0% (±10.4 points)	Not measurably different
Acushnet Center	6.3 mi	2.4% (±2.4 points)	Lower
Mattapoisett Center	6.5 mi	8.8% (±5.7 points)	Not measurably different

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Acushnet Center, MA (2.4%).

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

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

Rank	Place	Homes heated by fuel oil
1	Plympton	62.7% (±8.3 points)
2	Halifax	61.2% (±10.2 points)
3	Lakeville	60.1% (±4.1 points)
4	Rochester	55.6% (±7.7 points)
5	Marion	46.9% (±9.6 points)
6	Norwell	46.6% (±5.2 points)
7	Kingston	44.7% (±7.3 points)
8	Carver	40.0% (±6.5 points)
9	East Bridgewater	39.8% (±5.4 points)
10	West Bridgewater	38.8% (±7.7 points)

Showing 10 of 27 places in Plymouth 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 Rochester

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

Fuel oil or kerosene is the most common heating fuel in Rochester, used by 55.6% of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

How many homes in Rochester heat with oil?

55.6% (±7.7 points) of occupied homes in Rochester use fuel oil or kerosene as their main heating fuel.

How many homes in Rochester have electric heat?

7.7% (±4.7 points) of occupied homes in Rochester heat mainly with electricity, which includes heat pumps.

Sources

Selected Housing Characteristics (DP04), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Rochester town, Plymouth 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 Rochester town, Plymouth County, Massachusetts (county subdivision:57600, in state:25 county:023).

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.