How are homes heated in Sterling, MA?

Name: Heating fuel in Sterling, 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 Sterling, used by 66.1% (±8.4 points) of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

4.1% heat with utility gas.

15.0% heat with electricity.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Utility gas: 4.1% (±2.8 points)
Electricity: 15.0%
Fuel oil, kerosene: 66.1%

Heating fuel in Sterling

Occupied housing units by house heating fuel, 2020–2024
Fuel used most	Sterling	Worcester County	Massachusetts	United States
Utility gas	4.1% (±2.8 points)	32.4%	51.6%	46.5%
Fuel oil, kerosene, etc.	66.1% (±8.4 points)	37.9%	22.4%	3.9%
Electricity	15.0% (±5.7 points)	19.6%	18.6%	41.3%
Bottled or tank gas (propane)	7.3% (±3.6 points)	5.6%	4.5%	4.9%
Wood	5.5% (±4.9 points)	2.3%	1.1%	1.4%
Solar energy	0.0% (±1.3 points)	0.3%	0.2%	0.3%
Coal or coke	0.0% (±1.3 points)	0.1%	0.0%	0.1%
Other fuel	2.0% (±1.8 points)	1.4%	0.8%	0.5%
No fuel used	0.0% (±1.3 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 Sterling, 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 Sterling, the share of homes heating with electricity is not measurably different from Worcester County (19.6%).

It is not measurably different from Massachusetts (18.6%).

It is lower than the national figure (41.3%).

Homes heated by electricity in places near Sterling

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Sterling
Place	Distance	Homes heated by electricity	Compared with this place
Sterling	—	15.0% (±5.7 points)	—
South Lancaster	4.1 mi	3.2% (±5.0 points)	Lower
Clinton (community)	5.0 mi	20.9% (±5.1 points)	Not measurably different
Clinton	5.0 mi	22.3% (±4.3 points)	Higher
Leominster	5.0 mi	24.3% (±3.0 points)	Higher
Princeton	5.2 mi	3.0% (±2.5 points)	Lower
West Boylston	5.4 mi	13.4% (±3.4 points)	Not measurably different
Lancaster	5.7 mi	9.3% (±4.1 points)	Not measurably different
Boylston	7.1 mi	11.2% (±4.0 points)	Not measurably different

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: South Lancaster, MA (3.2%), Princeton, MA (3.0%).

Nearby places with a measurably higher figure: Clinton, MA (22.3%), Leominster, MA (24.3%).

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
3	Hubbardston	72.5% (±7.0 points)
4	Athol	72.4% (±4.5 points)
5	Princeton	70.9% (±6.5 points)
6	Rutland	69.8% (±5.2 points)
7	Paxton	68.2% (±9.2 points)
8	East Brookfield	66.9% (±7.5 points)
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)

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 Sterling

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

Fuel oil or kerosene is the most common heating fuel in Sterling, used by 66.1% of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

How many homes in Sterling heat with oil?

66.1% (±8.4 points) of occupied homes in Sterling use fuel oil or kerosene as their main heating fuel.

How many homes in Sterling have electric heat?

15.0% (±5.7 points) of occupied homes in Sterling heat mainly with electricity, which includes heat pumps.

Sources

Selected Housing Characteristics (DP04), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Sterling 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 Sterling town, Worcester County, Massachusetts (county subdivision:67385, 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.