How are homes heated in Benton Harbor, MI?

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

Utility gas is the most common heating fuel in Benton Harbor, used by 74.7% (±7.8 points) of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

20.8% heat with electricity.

0.0% heat with fuel oil or kerosene.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Utility gas: 74.7% (±7.8 points)
Electricity: 20.8%
Fuel oil, kerosene: 0.0%

Heating fuel in Benton Harbor

Occupied housing units by house heating fuel, 2020–2024
Fuel used most	Benton Harbor	Berrien County	Michigan	United States
Utility gas	74.7% (±7.8 points)	64.4%	74.9%	46.5%
Fuel oil, kerosene, etc.	0.0% (±0.8 points)	2.2%	0.8%	3.9%
Electricity	20.8% (±6.9 points)	21.3%	12.1%	41.3%
Bottled or tank gas (propane)	3.0% (±2.4 points)	8.8%	8.7%	4.9%
Wood	0.0% (±0.8 points)	1.5%	2.2%	1.4%
Solar energy	0.0% (±0.8 points)	0.0%	0.0%	0.3%
Coal or coke	0.0% (±0.8 points)	0.0%	0.0%	0.1%
Other fuel	0.0% (±0.8 points)	1.1%	0.8%	0.5%
No fuel used	1.5% (±1.0 points)	0.7%	0.5%	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 Benton Harbor, the share of homes heating with fuel oil is lower than in Berrien County (2.2%).

It is not measurably different from Michigan (0.8%).

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

In Benton Harbor, the share of homes heating with electricity is not measurably different from Berrien County (21.3%).

It is also higher than in Michigan (12.1%).

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

Homes heated by electricity in places near Benton Harbor

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Benton Harbor
Place	Distance	Homes heated by electricity	Compared with this place
Benton Harbor	—	20.8% (±6.9 points)	—
Benton Heights	1.8 mi	15.8% (±7.8 points)	Not measurably different
Fair Plain	2.2 mi	23.0% (±4.7 points)	Not measurably different
St. Joseph	2.3 mi	21.9% (±4.7 points)	Not measurably different
Benton Charter Township	2.6 mi	26.0% (±4.1 points)	Not measurably different
St. Joseph Charter Township	3.5 mi	12.6% (±2.7 points)	Lower
Shoreham	4.9 mi	15.0% (±4.8 points)	Not measurably different
Hagar Township	6.6 mi	26.4% (±8.5 points)	Not measurably different
Royalton Township	6.6 mi	11.8% (±4.6 points)	Lower

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: St. Joseph Charter Township, MI (12.6%), Royalton Township, MI (11.8%).

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

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

Rank	Place	Homes heated by fuel oil
19	Lincoln Charter Township	1.4% (±0.8 points)
20	Coloma Charter Township	0.8% (±1.1 points)
21	St. Joseph Charter Township	0.6% (±0.8 points)
22	Niles Township	0.5% (±0.4 points)
23	Niles	0.4% (±0.3 points)
24	St. Joseph	0.1% (±0.2 points)
25 (tie)	Benton Harbor	0.0% (±0.8 points)
25 (tie)	Bridgman	0.0% (±3.3 points)
25 (tie)	Coloma	0.0% (±6.0 points)
25 (tie)	New Buffalo	0.0% (±3.9 points)
25 (tie)	Watervliet	0.0% (±4.3 points)
25 (tie)	Lake Charter Township	0.0% (±2.4 points)

Showing 12 of 30 places in Berrien 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 Benton Harbor

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

Utility gas is the most common heating fuel in Benton Harbor, used by 74.7% of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

How many homes in Benton Harbor heat with oil?

0.0% (±0.8 points) of occupied homes in Benton Harbor use fuel oil or kerosene as their main heating fuel.

How many homes in Benton Harbor have electric heat?

20.8% (±6.9 points) of occupied homes in Benton Harbor heat mainly with electricity, which includes heat pumps.

Sources

Selected Housing Characteristics (DP04), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Benton Harbor city, Michigan

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 Benton Harbor city, Michigan (place:07520, in state:26).

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.