How are homes heated in Rochester, NH?

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

Fuel oil or kerosene is the most common heating fuel in Rochester, used by 47.9% (±3.2 points) of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

20.4% heat with utility gas.

11.1% heat with electricity.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Utility gas: 20.4% (±2.4 points)
Electricity: 11.1%
Fuel oil, kerosene: 47.9%

Heating fuel in Rochester

Occupied housing units by house heating fuel, 2020–2024
Fuel used most	Rochester	Strafford County	New Hampshire	United States
Utility gas	20.4% (±2.4 points)	21.4%	21.4%	46.5%
Fuel oil, kerosene, etc.	47.9% (±3.2 points)	42.5%	39.5%	3.9%
Electricity	11.1% (±2.6 points)	12.1%	11.1%	41.3%
Bottled or tank gas (propane)	14.9% (±2.3 points)	16.2%	19.2%	4.9%
Wood	3.2% (±1.4 points)	4.4%	5.8%	1.4%
Solar energy	0.0% (±0.3 points)	0.4%	0.3%	0.3%
Coal or coke	0.5% (±0.5 points)	0.2%	0.1%	0.1%
Other fuel	1.6% (±1.3 points)	1.8%	1.8%	0.5%
No fuel used	0.3% (±0.3 points)	1.1%	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 Rochester, the share of homes heating with fuel oil is higher than in Strafford County (42.5%).

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

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

In Rochester, the share of homes heating with electricity is not measurably different from Strafford County (12.1%).

It is not measurably different from New Hampshire (11.1%).

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

Homes heated by electricity in places near Rochester

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Rochester
Place	Distance	Homes heated by electricity	Compared with this place
Rochester	—	11.1% (±2.6 points)	—
Somersworth	5.5 mi	12.0% (±5.6 points)	Not measurably different
Berwick (community)	6.1 mi	8.0% (±7.2 points)	Not measurably different
Farmington	6.4 mi	5.0% (±3.2 points)	Lower
Barrington	6.5 mi	3.3% (±2.5 points)	Lower
Berwick	6.8 mi	7.5% (±4.3 points)	Not measurably different
Lebanon	7.7 mi	1.3% (±1.5 points)	Lower
Farmington (community)	8.5 mi	7.3% (±5.2 points)	Not measurably different
Rollinsford	8.7 mi	9.7% (±5.9 points)	Not measurably different

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Farmington, NH (5.0%), Barrington, NH (3.3%), Lebanon, ME (1.3%).

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

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

Rank	Place	Homes heated by fuel oil
2	Farmington	63.2% (±7.7 points)
3	Rollinsford	61.4% (±8.1 points)
4	Lee	59.6% (±9.0 points)
5	Madbury	56.6% (±10.4 points)
6	Middleton	52.1% (±8.0 points)
7	Barrington	48.4% (±5.9 points)
8	Rochester	47.9% (±3.2 points)
9	New Durham	45.0% (±7.9 points)
10	Somersworth	44.8% (±6.6 points)
11	Strafford	43.0% (±8.1 points)
12	Durham	42.5% (±6.5 points)
13	Dover	24.0% (±2.7 points)

Showing 12 of 13 places in Strafford 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 Rochester

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

Fuel oil or kerosene is the most common heating fuel in Rochester, used by 47.9% of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

How many homes in Rochester heat with oil?

47.9% (±3.2 points) of occupied homes in Rochester use fuel oil or kerosene as their main heating fuel.

How many homes in Rochester have electric heat?

11.1% (±2.6 points) of occupied homes in Rochester heat mainly with electricity, which includes heat pumps.

Sources

Selected Housing Characteristics (DP04), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Rochester 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 Rochester city, New Hampshire (place:65140, 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.