How are homes heated in South Lancaster, MA?

Name: Heating fuel in South Lancaster, 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 South Lancaster, used by 61.9% (±16.0 points) of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

27.8% heat with utility gas.

3.2% heat with electricity.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Utility gas: 27.8% (±16.0 points)
Electricity: 3.2%
Fuel oil, kerosene: 61.9%

Heating fuel in South Lancaster

Occupied housing units by house heating fuel, 2020–2024
Fuel used most	South Lancaster	Worcester County	Massachusetts	United States
Utility gas	27.8% (±16.0 points)	32.4%	51.6%	46.5%
Fuel oil, kerosene, etc.	61.9% (±16.0 points)	37.9%	22.4%	3.9%
Electricity	3.2% (±5.0 points)	19.6%	18.6%	41.3%
Bottled or tank gas (propane)	2.3% (±3.9 points)	5.6%	4.5%	4.9%
Wood	3.0% (±4.7 points)	2.3%	1.1%	1.4%
Solar energy	0.0% (±5.0 points)	0.3%	0.2%	0.3%
Coal or coke	0.0% (±5.0 points)	0.1%	0.0%	0.1%
Other fuel	1.8% (±3.3 points)	1.4%	0.8%	0.5%
No fuel used	0.0% (±5.0 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 South Lancaster, 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 South Lancaster, 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 South Lancaster

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with South Lancaster
Place	Distance	Homes heated by electricity	Compared with this place
South Lancaster	—	3.2% (±5.0 points)	—
Clinton (community)	1.4 mi	20.9% (±5.1 points)	Higher
Clinton	1.8 mi	22.3% (±4.3 points)	Higher
Sterling	4.1 mi	15.0% (±5.7 points)	Higher
Berlin	4.8 mi	13.0% (±5.1 points)	Higher
Bolton	4.9 mi	14.3% (±5.0 points)	Higher
Boylston	5.7 mi	11.2% (±4.0 points)	Higher
West Boylston	6.5 mi	13.4% (±3.4 points)	Higher
Leominster	6.9 mi	24.3% (±3.0 points)	Higher

Nearby places with a measurably higher figure: Clinton (community), MA (20.9%), Clinton, MA (22.3%), Sterling, MA (15.0%).

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
1	East Brookfield (community)	75.0% (±9.2 points)
2	Athol (community)	74.6% (±5.6 points)
3	Rutland (community)	69.4% (±10.4 points)
4	Oxford (community)	65.4% (±8.9 points)
5	Sturbridge (community)	62.7% (±11.4 points)
6	South Ashburnham	62.0% (±18.6 points)
7	South Lancaster	61.9% (±16.0 points)
8	Cordaville	61.1% (±9.7 points)
9	East Douglas	58.3% (±14.4 points)
10	Winchendon (community)	57.6% (±10.0 points)
11	Hopedale (community)	56.8% (±9.5 points)
12	Baldwinville	54.7% (±19.5 points)
13	Fiskdale	53.6% (±10.3 points)

Showing 13 of 26 places in Worcester County, ranked from highest to lowest.

South Lancaster is a census-designated place: an unincorporated community the Census Bureau draws for statistics, with no municipal government of its own.

It lies inside Lancaster, whose figures include it.

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 South Lancaster

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

Fuel oil or kerosene is the most common heating fuel in South Lancaster, used by 61.9% of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

How many homes in South Lancaster heat with oil?

61.9% (±16.0 points) of occupied homes in South Lancaster use fuel oil or kerosene as their main heating fuel.

How many homes in South Lancaster have electric heat?

3.2% (±5.0 points) of occupied homes in South Lancaster heat mainly with electricity, which includes heat pumps.

Sources

Selected Housing Characteristics (DP04), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — South Lancaster CDP, 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 South Lancaster CDP, Massachusetts (place:64460, 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.