How are homes heated in Forest Lake, MN?

Name: Heating fuel in Forest Lake, 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 Forest Lake, used by 71.4% (±4.3 points) of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

23.1% heat with electricity.

0.1% heat with fuel oil or kerosene.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Utility gas: 71.4% (±4.3 points)
Electricity: 23.1%
Fuel oil, kerosene: 0.1%

Heating fuel in Forest Lake

Occupied housing units by house heating fuel, 2020–2024
Fuel used most	Forest Lake	Washington County	Minnesota	United States
Utility gas	71.4% (±4.3 points)	79.6%	65.1%	46.5%
Fuel oil, kerosene, etc.	0.1% (±0.2 points)	0.4%	1.3%	3.9%
Electricity	23.1% (±4.2 points)	16.3%	19.4%	41.3%
Bottled or tank gas (propane)	3.5% (±1.5 points)	2.3%	10.8%	4.9%
Wood	0.0% (±0.3 points)	0.4%	1.6%	1.4%
Solar energy	0.0% (±0.3 points)	0.1%	0.1%	0.3%
Coal or coke	0.0% (±0.3 points)	0.0%	0.0%	0.1%
Other fuel	0.4% (±0.4 points)	0.5%	0.9%	0.5%
No fuel used	1.5% (±1.2 points)	0.4%	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 Forest Lake, the share of homes heating with fuel oil is lower than in Washington County (0.4%).

It is also lower than in Minnesota (1.3%).

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

In Forest Lake, the share of homes heating with electricity is higher than in Washington County (16.3%).

It is not measurably different from Minnesota (19.4%).

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

Homes heated by electricity in places near Forest Lake

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Forest Lake
Place	Distance	Homes heated by electricity	Compared with this place
Forest Lake	—	23.1% (±4.2 points)	—
Hugo	6.0 mi	12.9% (±3.3 points)	Lower
Wyoming	6.2 mi	13.7% (±3.7 points)	Lower
Scandia	6.5 mi	4.5% (±2.4 points)	Lower
Columbus	6.9 mi	7.9% (±4.4 points)	Lower
Centerville	7.2 mi	12.3% (±6.3 points)	Lower
Chisago City	8.7 mi	23.6% (±5.2 points)	Not measurably different
May Township (Washington County)	8.8 mi	11.5% (±4.6 points)	Lower
Lino Lakes	9.5 mi	10.6% (±2.6 points)	Lower

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Hugo, MN (12.9%), Wyoming, MN (13.7%), Scandia, MN (4.5%).

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

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

Rank	Place	Homes heated by fuel oil
12	Hugo	1.0% (±0.9 points)
13	St. Paul Park	0.9% (±1.7 points)
14	Newport	0.7% (±1.1 points)
15	Marine on St. Croix	0.6% (±0.9 points)
16 (tie)	Afton	0.4% (±0.6 points)
16 (tie)	Oakdale	0.4% (±0.6 points)
18	Forest Lake	0.1% (±0.2 points)
19 (tie)	Birchwood Village	0.0% (±6.4 points)
19 (tie)	Cottage Grove	0.0% (±0.2 points)
19 (tie)	Lake Elmo	0.0% (±0.5 points)
19 (tie)	Lakeland	0.0% (±3.1 points)
19 (tie)	Lakeland Shores	0.0% (±17.1 points)
19 (tie)	Lake St. Croix Beach	0.0% (±4.7 points)

Showing 13 of 31 places in Washington 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.

What you can do on Seayora in Forest Lake

One account for renting, owning, managing and fixing homes, with these figures beside you.

Do repairs, renovations or maintenance?

Get found by owners and renters near Forest Lake, and send estimates and invoices from your phone.

Join as a pro · Find a pro

Own or manage a rental?

List it, sign the lease and collect rent online, with the figures for Forest Lake beside you.

Create a landlord account · See what landlords get

Looking for a place to rent?

Browse homes for rent near Forest Lake, save the ones you like and apply online.

Browse rentals · Create a renter account

Questions about Forest Lake

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

Utility gas is the most common heating fuel in Forest Lake, used by 71.4% of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

How many homes in Forest Lake heat with oil?

0.1% (±0.2 points) of occupied homes in Forest Lake use fuel oil or kerosene as their main heating fuel.

How many homes in Forest Lake have electric heat?

23.1% (±4.2 points) of occupied homes in Forest Lake heat mainly with electricity, which includes heat pumps.

Sources

Selected Housing Characteristics (DP04), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Forest Lake 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 Forest Lake city, Minnesota (place:21770, 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.