How are homes heated in Portsmouth, NH?

Name: Heating fuel in Portsmouth, NH, 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 Portsmouth, used by 50.8% (±4.0 points) of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

17.9% heat with electricity.

21.5% heat with fuel oil or kerosene.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Utility gas: 50.8% (±4.0 points)
Electricity: 17.9%
Fuel oil, kerosene: 21.5%

Heating fuel in Portsmouth

Occupied housing units by house heating fuel, 2020–2024
Fuel used most	Portsmouth	Rockingham County	New Hampshire	United States
Utility gas	50.8% (±4.0 points)	17.0%	21.4%	46.5%
Fuel oil, kerosene, etc.	21.5% (±2.9 points)	42.2%	39.5%	3.9%
Electricity	17.9% (±3.1 points)	11.5%	11.1%	41.3%
Bottled or tank gas (propane)	5.2% (±1.5 points)	23.0%	19.2%	4.9%
Wood	0.0% (±0.1 points)	3.1%	5.8%	1.4%
Solar energy	0.7% (±0.7 points)	0.3%	0.3%	0.3%
Coal or coke	0.0% (±0.3 points)	0.0%	0.1%	0.1%
Other fuel	0.9% (±0.5 points)	2.1%	1.8%	0.5%
No fuel used	3.0% (±1.9 points)	0.8%	0.8%	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 Portsmouth, the share of homes heating with fuel oil is lower than in Rockingham County (42.2%).

It is also lower than in New Hampshire (39.5%).

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

In Portsmouth, the share of homes heating with electricity is higher than in Rockingham County (11.5%).

It is also higher than in New Hampshire (11.1%).

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

Homes heated by electricity in places near Portsmouth

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Portsmouth
Place	Distance	Homes heated by electricity	Compared with this place
Portsmouth	—	17.9% (±3.1 points)	—
Kittery (community)	2.9 mi	15.8% (±8.6 points)	Not measurably different
Newington	3.0 mi	5.6% (±3.4 points)	Lower
New Castle	3.2 mi	1.5% (±2.6 points)	Lower
Greenland	3.6 mi	3.2% (±2.2 points)	Lower
Rye	3.6 mi	9.6% (±3.7 points)	Lower
South Eliot	5.2 mi	5.2% (±3.8 points)	Lower
Eliot	5.9 mi	6.9% (±3.6 points)	Lower
North Hampton	6.1 mi	4.2% (±2.5 points)	Lower

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Newington, NH (5.6%), New Castle, NH (1.5%), Greenland, NH (3.2%).

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

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

Rank	Place	Homes heated by fuel oil
30	Derry	42.9% (±3.5 points)
31	Plaistow	40.9% (±6.3 points)
32	Epping	36.7% (±6.7 points)
33	Seabrook	35.4% (±6.6 points)
34	Newmarket	35.0% (±5.3 points)
35	Exeter	24.5% (±4.0 points)
36	Portsmouth	21.5% (±2.9 points)
37	Hampton	18.2% (±4.2 points)

Showing 8 of 37 places in Rockingham 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 Portsmouth

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

Utility gas is the most common heating fuel in Portsmouth, used by 50.8% of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

How many homes in Portsmouth heat with oil?

21.5% (±2.9 points) of occupied homes in Portsmouth use fuel oil or kerosene as their main heating fuel.

How many homes in Portsmouth have electric heat?

17.9% (±3.1 points) of occupied homes in Portsmouth heat mainly with electricity, which includes heat pumps.

Sources

Selected Housing Characteristics (DP04), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Portsmouth city, New Hampshire

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 Portsmouth city, New Hampshire (place:62900, in state:33).

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.