How are homes heated in Elmira, NY?

Name: Heating fuel in Elmira, NY, 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 Elmira, used by 76.5% (±3.6 points) of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

18.9% heat with electricity.

0.5% heat with fuel oil or kerosene.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Utility gas: 76.5% (±3.6 points)
Electricity: 18.9%
Fuel oil, kerosene: 0.5%

Heating fuel in Elmira

Occupied housing units by house heating fuel, 2020–2024
Fuel used most	Elmira	Chemung County	New York	United States
Utility gas	76.5% (±3.6 points)	69.2%	59.1%	46.5%
Fuel oil, kerosene, etc.	0.5% (±0.4 points)	5.3%	16.1%	3.9%
Electricity	18.9% (±2.9 points)	15.2%	15.4%	41.3%
Bottled or tank gas (propane)	3.1% (±1.5 points)	6.1%	4.9%	4.9%
Wood	0.0% (±0.4 points)	2.5%	1.3%	1.4%
Solar energy	0.0% (±0.4 points)	0.0%	0.1%	0.3%
Coal or coke	0.0% (±0.4 points)	0.7%	0.2%	0.1%
Other fuel	0.4% (±0.3 points)	0.6%	1.3%	0.5%
No fuel used	0.6% (±0.6 points)	0.3%	1.6%	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 Elmira, the share of homes heating with fuel oil is lower than in Chemung County (5.3%).

It is also lower than in New York (16.1%).

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

In Elmira, the share of homes heating with electricity is higher than in Chemung County (15.2%).

It is also higher than in New York (15.4%).

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

Homes heated by electricity in places near Elmira

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Elmira
Place	Distance	Homes heated by electricity	Compared with this place
Elmira	—	18.9% (±2.9 points)	—
Town of Elmira	1.6 mi	14.0% (±5.8 points)	Not measurably different
West Elmira	1.8 mi	12.8% (±7.2 points)	Not measurably different
Southport (community)	2.1 mi	12.7% (±4.5 points)	Lower
Village of Elmira Heights	2.4 mi	25.1% (±6.6 points)	Not measurably different
Town of Southport	4.6 mi	11.7% (±3.7 points)	Lower
Town of Horseheads	4.7 mi	18.5% (±3.1 points)	Not measurably different
Village of Horseheads	5.3 mi	20.7% (±5.2 points)	Not measurably different
Town of Ashland (Chemung County)	5.9 mi	9.0% (±4.7 points)	Lower

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Southport (community), NY (12.7%), Town of Southport, NY (11.7%), Town of Ashland (Chemung County), NY (9.0%).

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

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

Rank	Place	Homes heated by fuel oil
6	Town of Southport	8.1% (±4.7 points)
7	Town of Erin	8.0% (±3.0 points)
8	Town of Ashland (Chemung County)	5.6% (±2.5 points)
9 (tie)	Town of Big Flats	4.4% (±2.6 points)
9 (tie)	Town of Elmira	4.4% (±1.8 points)
11	Town of Horseheads	1.3% (±0.6 points)
12	Elmira	0.5% (±0.4 points)

Showing 7 of 12 places in Chemung 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 Elmira

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

Utility gas is the most common heating fuel in Elmira, used by 76.5% of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

How many homes in Elmira heat with oil?

0.5% (±0.4 points) of occupied homes in Elmira use fuel oil or kerosene as their main heating fuel.

How many homes in Elmira have electric heat?

18.9% (±2.9 points) of occupied homes in Elmira heat mainly with electricity, which includes heat pumps.

Sources

Selected Housing Characteristics (DP04), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Elmira city, Chemung County, New York

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 Elmira city, Chemung County, New York (county subdivision:24229, in state:36 county:015).

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.