How are homes heated in Columbia Falls, MT?

Name: Heating fuel in Columbia Falls, MT, 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 Columbia Falls, used by 50.1% (±8.8 points) of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

46.7% heat with electricity.

0.0% heat with fuel oil or kerosene.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Utility gas: 50.1% (±8.8 points)
Electricity: 46.7%
Fuel oil, kerosene: 0.0%

Heating fuel in Columbia Falls

Occupied housing units by house heating fuel, 2020–2024
Fuel used most	Columbia Falls	Flathead County	Montana	United States
Utility gas	50.1% (±8.8 points)	43.4%	50.5%	46.5%
Fuel oil, kerosene, etc.	0.0% (±1.3 points)	0.5%	0.6%	3.9%
Electricity	46.7% (±9.4 points)	38.6%	27.3%	41.3%
Bottled or tank gas (propane)	0.0% (±1.3 points)	8.4%	13.0%	4.9%
Wood	3.2% (±4.2 points)	7.7%	6.6%	1.4%
Solar energy	0.0% (±1.3 points)	0.0%	0.2%	0.3%
Coal or coke	0.0% (±1.3 points)	0.0%	0.1%	0.1%
Other fuel	0.0% (±1.3 points)	1.1%	1.2%	0.5%
No fuel used	0.0% (±1.3 points)	0.4%	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 Columbia Falls, the share of homes heating with fuel oil is not measurably different from Flathead County (0.5%).

It is not measurably different from Montana (0.6%).

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

In Columbia Falls, the share of homes heating with electricity is not measurably different from Flathead County (38.6%).

It is also higher than in Montana (27.3%).

It is not measurably different from the national figure (41.3%).

Homes heated by electricity in places near Columbia Falls

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Columbia Falls
Place	Distance	Homes heated by electricity	Compared with this place
Columbia Falls	—	46.7% (±9.4 points)	—
Whitefish	8.5 mi	35.8% (±6.0 points)	Not measurably different
Evergreen	11 mi	30.4% (±7.1 points)	Lower
Kalispell	12 mi	39.3% (±3.2 points)	Not measurably different
Somers	20 mi	53.2% (±24.1 points)	Not measurably different
Bigfork	21 mi	49.3% (±6.1 points)	Not measurably different
Lakeside	24 mi	51.4% (±16.1 points)	Not measurably different
Marion	30 mi	44.4% (±14.0 points)	Not measurably different
Polson	47 mi	78.8% (±6.3 points)	Higher

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Evergreen, MT (30.4%).

Nearby places with a measurably higher figure: Polson, MT (78.8%).

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

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

Rank	Place	Homes heated by fuel oil
1	Marion	9.0% (±8.6 points)
2	Lakeside	1.1% (±1.6 points)
3	Whitefish	0.7% (±0.8 points)
4	Bigfork	0.4% (±0.5 points)
5 (tie)	Columbia Falls	0.0% (±1.3 points)
5 (tie)	Evergreen	0.0% (±0.9 points)
5 (tie)	Kalispell	0.0% (±0.3 points)
5 (tie)	Somers	0.0% (±4.9 points)

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 Columbia Falls

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

Utility gas is the most common heating fuel in Columbia Falls, used by 50.1% of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

How many homes in Columbia Falls heat with oil?

0.0% (±1.3 points) of occupied homes in Columbia Falls use fuel oil or kerosene as their main heating fuel.

How many homes in Columbia Falls have electric heat?

46.7% (±9.4 points) of occupied homes in Columbia Falls heat mainly with electricity, which includes heat pumps.

Sources

Selected Housing Characteristics (DP04), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Columbia Falls city, Montana

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 Columbia Falls city, Montana (place:16600, in state:30).

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.