How are homes heated in Plainfield, NJ?

Name: Heating fuel in Plainfield, NJ, 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 Plainfield, used by 75.9% (±3.2 points) of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

17.4% heat with electricity.

3.9% heat with fuel oil or kerosene.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Utility gas: 75.9% (±3.2 points)
Electricity: 17.4%
Fuel oil, kerosene: 3.9%

Heating fuel in Plainfield

Occupied housing units by house heating fuel, 2020–2024
Fuel used most	Plainfield	Union County	New Jersey	United States
Utility gas	75.9% (±3.2 points)	81.8%	73.1%	46.5%
Fuel oil, kerosene, etc.	3.9% (±0.9 points)	3.9%	6.4%	3.9%
Electricity	17.4% (±3.2 points)	10.9%	16.2%	41.3%
Bottled or tank gas (propane)	1.3% (±0.8 points)	1.8%	2.4%	4.9%
Wood	0.1% (±0.1 points)	0.0%	0.3%	1.4%
Solar energy	0.1% (±0.1 points)	0.3%	0.2%	0.3%
Coal or coke	0.0% (±0.3 points)	0.0%	0.0%	0.1%
Other fuel	0.4% (±0.4 points)	0.3%	0.5%	0.5%
No fuel used	1.0% (±0.8 points)	1.0%	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 Plainfield, the share of homes heating with fuel oil is not measurably different from Union County (3.9%).

It is also lower than in New Jersey (6.4%).

It is not measurably different from the national figure (3.9%).

In Plainfield, the share of homes heating with electricity is higher than in Union County (10.9%).

It is not measurably different from New Jersey (16.2%).

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

Homes heated by electricity in places near Plainfield

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Plainfield
Place	Distance	Homes heated by electricity	Compared with this place
Plainfield	—	17.4% (±3.2 points)	—
North Plainfield Borough	1.3 mi	9.3% (±3.3 points)	Lower
Watchung Borough	2.2 mi	7.7% (±4.5 points)	Lower
Fanwood Borough	2.4 mi	10.8% (±4.5 points)	Lower
Scotch Plains Township	2.6 mi	8.6% (±4.3 points)	Lower
South Plainfield Borough	2.8 mi	8.9% (±2.7 points)	Lower
Dunellen Borough	3.1 mi	16.1% (±7.8 points)	Not measurably different
Green Brook Township	3.6 mi	8.2% (±5.0 points)	Lower
Berkeley Heights Township	4.2 mi	6.3% (±3.0 points)	Lower

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: North Plainfield Borough, NJ (9.3%), Watchung Borough, NJ (7.7%), Fanwood Borough, NJ (10.8%).

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

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

Rank	Place	Homes heated by fuel oil
6	Summit	6.2% (±4.6 points)
7	Linden	5.9% (±1.8 points)
8	Kenilworth Borough	5.3% (±4.1 points)
9	Roselle Borough	4.6% (±1.9 points)
10	Clark Township	4.3% (±2.8 points)
11	Mountainside Borough	4.0% (±3.1 points)
12	Plainfield	3.9% (±0.9 points)
13	Westfield Town	3.6% (±1.1 points)
14	Union Township (Union County)	3.5% (±0.8 points)
15	Garwood Borough	3.3% (±2.5 points)
16	Scotch Plains Township	2.9% (±1.4 points)
17	Berkeley Heights Township	1.9% (±2.1 points)
18	Elizabeth	1.6% (±0.5 points)

Showing 13 of 21 places in Union 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 Plainfield

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

Utility gas is the most common heating fuel in Plainfield, used by 75.9% of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

How many homes in Plainfield heat with oil?

3.9% (±0.9 points) of occupied homes in Plainfield use fuel oil or kerosene as their main heating fuel.

How many homes in Plainfield have electric heat?

17.4% (±3.2 points) of occupied homes in Plainfield heat mainly with electricity, which includes heat pumps.

Sources

Selected Housing Characteristics (DP04), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Plainfield city, Union County, New Jersey

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 Plainfield city, Union County, New Jersey (county subdivision:59190, in state:34 county:039).

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.