How are homes heated in Princeton, NJ?

Name: Heating fuel in Princeton, 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 Princeton, used by 70.7% (±3.2 points) of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

21.7% heat with electricity.

3.6% heat with fuel oil or kerosene.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Utility gas: 70.7% (±3.2 points)
Electricity: 21.7%
Fuel oil, kerosene: 3.6%

Heating fuel in Princeton

Occupied housing units by house heating fuel, 2020–2024
Fuel used most	Princeton	Mercer County	New Jersey	United States
Utility gas	70.7% (±3.2 points)	71.3%	73.1%	46.5%
Fuel oil, kerosene, etc.	3.6% (±1.1 points)	6.1%	6.4%	3.9%
Electricity	21.7% (±3.4 points)	19.5%	16.2%	41.3%
Bottled or tank gas (propane)	1.4% (±0.7 points)	1.7%	2.4%	4.9%
Wood	0.1% (±0.2 points)	0.1%	0.3%	1.4%
Solar energy	0.2% (±0.2 points)	0.1%	0.2%	0.3%
Coal or coke	0.0% (±0.5 points)	0.1%	0.0%	0.1%
Other fuel	1.2% (±0.8 points)	0.4%	0.5%	0.5%
No fuel used	1.2% (±0.9 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 Princeton, the share of homes heating with fuel oil is lower than in Mercer County (6.1%).

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

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

In Princeton, the share of homes heating with electricity is not measurably different from Mercer County (19.5%).

It is also higher than in New Jersey (16.2%).

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

Homes heated by electricity in places near Princeton

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Princeton
Place	Distance	Homes heated by electricity	Compared with this place
Princeton	—	21.7% (±3.4 points)	—
Kingston	3.2 mi	16.0% (±11.2 points)	Not measurably different
Rocky Hill Borough	3.3 mi	12.9% (±4.5 points)	Lower
Princeton Junction	3.4 mi	16.2% (±9.9 points)	Not measurably different
Plainsboro Center	4.4 mi	15.6% (±7.6 points)	Not measurably different
Montgomery Township	4.7 mi	13.1% (±2.8 points)	Lower
Plainsboro Township	4.7 mi	42.0% (±3.7 points)	Higher
West Windsor Township	5.1 mi	24.2% (±3.5 points)	Not measurably different
Lawrence Township (Mercer County)	5.1 mi	17.4% (±2.9 points)	Not measurably different

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Rocky Hill Borough, NJ (12.9%), Montgomery Township, NJ (13.1%).

Nearby places with a measurably higher figure: Plainsboro Township, NJ (42.0%).

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

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

Rank	Place	Homes heated by fuel oil
3	Pennington Borough	12.2% (±4.0 points)
4	Ewing Township	7.0% (±1.7 points)
5	Robbinsville Township	6.5% (±2.9 points)
6	Trenton	5.8% (±1.7 points)
7	Hamilton Township (Mercer County)	5.6% (±1.5 points)
8	Lawrence Township (Mercer County)	4.0% (±1.2 points)
9	Princeton	3.6% (±1.1 points)
10	Hightstown Borough	3.5% (±2.8 points)
11	East Windsor Township	3.1% (±1.5 points)
12	West Windsor Township	2.2% (±1.1 points)

Showing 10 of 12 places in Mercer 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 Princeton

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

Utility gas is the most common heating fuel in Princeton, used by 70.7% of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

How many homes in Princeton heat with oil?

3.6% (±1.1 points) of occupied homes in Princeton use fuel oil or kerosene as their main heating fuel.

How many homes in Princeton have electric heat?

21.7% (±3.4 points) of occupied homes in Princeton heat mainly with electricity, which includes heat pumps.

Sources

Selected Housing Characteristics (DP04), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Princeton, Mercer 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 Princeton, Mercer County, New Jersey (county subdivision:60900, in state:34 county:021).

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.