How are homes heated in Columbus, MN?

Name: Heating fuel in Columbus, MN, 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 Columbus, used by 80.0% (±6.2 points) of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

7.9% heat with electricity.

0.7% heat with fuel oil or kerosene.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Utility gas: 80.0% (±6.2 points)
Electricity: 7.9%
Fuel oil, kerosene: 0.7%

Heating fuel in Columbus

Occupied housing units by house heating fuel, 2020–2024
Fuel used most	Columbus	Anoka County	Minnesota	United States
Utility gas	80.0% (±6.2 points)	83.3%	65.1%	46.5%
Fuel oil, kerosene, etc.	0.7% (±1.1 points)	0.3%	1.3%	3.9%
Electricity	7.9% (±4.4 points)	12.6%	19.4%	41.3%
Bottled or tank gas (propane)	10.2% (±5.5 points)	2.2%	10.8%	4.9%
Wood	0.6% (±1.0 points)	0.3%	1.6%	1.4%
Solar energy	0.0% (±1.4 points)	0.0%	0.1%	0.3%
Coal or coke	0.0% (±1.4 points)	0.0%	0.0%	0.1%
Other fuel	0.5% (±0.8 points)	0.7%	0.9%	0.5%
No fuel used	0.0% (±1.4 points)	0.5%	0.9%	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 Columbus, the share of homes heating with fuel oil is not measurably different from Anoka County (0.3%).

It is not measurably different from Minnesota (1.3%).

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

In Columbus, the share of homes heating with electricity is lower than in Anoka County (12.6%).

It is also lower than in Minnesota (19.4%).

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

Homes heated by electricity in places near Columbus

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Columbus
Place	Distance	Homes heated by electricity	Compared with this place
Columbus	—	7.9% (±4.4 points)	—
Ham Lake	4.2 mi	7.5% (±2.1 points)	Not measurably different
Centerville	6.6 mi	12.3% (±6.3 points)	Not measurably different
Forest Lake	6.9 mi	23.1% (±4.2 points)	Higher
Lino Lakes	6.9 mi	10.6% (±2.6 points)	Not measurably different
Blaine	7.5 mi	9.6% (±1.4 points)	Not measurably different
Circle Pines	7.9 mi	16.9% (±6.1 points)	Higher
Linwood Township	8.5 mi	8.7% (±4.3 points)	Not measurably different
East Bethel	8.6 mi	4.9% (±2.1 points)	Not measurably different

Nearby places with a measurably higher figure: Forest Lake, MN (23.1%), Circle Pines, MN (16.9%).

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

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

Rank	Place	Homes heated by fuel oil
1	Nowthen	3.4% (±3.5 points)
2 (tie)	Anoka	0.8% (±0.5 points)
2 (tie)	Oak Grove	0.8% (±1.1 points)
4 (tie)	Columbus	0.7% (±1.1 points)
4 (tie)	Linwood Township	0.7% (±1.2 points)
6	Fridley	0.5% (±0.5 points)
7 (tie)	Ham Lake	0.4% (±0.5 points)
7 (tie)	Ramsey	0.4% (±0.4 points)
9 (tie)	Andover	0.2% (±0.2 points)
9 (tie)	Blaine	0.2% (±0.2 points)

Showing 10 of 21 places in Anoka 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 Columbus

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

Utility gas is the most common heating fuel in Columbus, used by 80.0% of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

How many homes in Columbus heat with oil?

0.7% (±1.1 points) of occupied homes in Columbus use fuel oil or kerosene as their main heating fuel.

How many homes in Columbus have electric heat?

7.9% (±4.4 points) of occupied homes in Columbus heat mainly with electricity, which includes heat pumps.

Sources

Selected Housing Characteristics (DP04), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Columbus city, Minnesota

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 Columbus city, Minnesota (place:12718, in state:27).

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.