How are homes heated in Ithaca, NY?

Name: Heating fuel in Ithaca, 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 Ithaca, used by 62.4% (±4.5 points) of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

30.2% heat with electricity.

2.1% heat with fuel oil or kerosene.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Utility gas: 62.4% (±4.5 points)
Electricity: 30.2%
Fuel oil, kerosene: 2.1%

Heating fuel in Ithaca

Occupied housing units by house heating fuel, 2020–2024
Fuel used most	Ithaca	Tompkins County	New York	United States
Utility gas	62.4% (±4.5 points)	46.3%	59.1%	46.5%
Fuel oil, kerosene, etc.	2.1% (±1.5 points)	7.0%	16.1%	3.9%
Electricity	30.2% (±4.2 points)	25.8%	15.4%	41.3%
Bottled or tank gas (propane)	3.5% (±2.1 points)	13.1%	4.9%	4.9%
Wood	0.4% (±0.5 points)	4.4%	1.3%	1.4%
Solar energy	0.1% (±0.2 points)	0.3%	0.1%	0.3%
Coal or coke	0.0% (±0.3 points)	1.1%	0.2%	0.1%
Other fuel	0.8% (±0.7 points)	1.3%	1.3%	0.5%
No fuel used	0.5% (±0.4 points)	0.7%	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 Ithaca, the share of homes heating with fuel oil is lower than in Tompkins County (7.0%).

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

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

In Ithaca, the share of homes heating with electricity is not measurably different from Tompkins County (25.8%).

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 Ithaca

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Ithaca
Place	Distance	Homes heated by electricity	Compared with this place
Ithaca	—	30.2% (±4.2 points)	—
Village of Cayuga Heights	1.8 mi	15.0% (±7.4 points)	Lower
Forest Home	1.8 mi	19.0% (±12.4 points)	Not measurably different
Northwest Ithaca	1.9 mi	30.0% (±9.1 points)	Not measurably different
South Hill	2.4 mi	28.3% (±11.5 points)	Not measurably different
East Ithaca	2.6 mi	37.5% (±11.8 points)	Not measurably different
Northeast Ithaca	2.6 mi	19.7% (±7.2 points)	Lower
Town of Ithaca	2.8 mi	24.5% (±3.8 points)	Lower
Village of Lansing	3.3 mi	47.1% (±15.6 points)	Higher

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Village of Cayuga Heights, NY (15.0%), Northeast Ithaca, NY (19.7%), Town of Ithaca, NY (24.5%).

Nearby places with a measurably higher figure: Village of Lansing, NY (47.1%).

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

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

Rank	Place	Homes heated by fuel oil
3	Town of Dryden	11.9% (±3.4 points)
4	Town of Newfield	11.5% (±6.9 points)
5	Town of Caroline	11.4% (±5.9 points)
6	Town of Lansing	9.9% (±4.2 points)
7	Town of Danby	9.3% (±4.4 points)
8	Town of Ulysses	8.5% (±4.0 points)
9	Ithaca	2.1% (±1.5 points)
10	Town of Ithaca	1.9% (±1.9 points)

Showing 8 of 10 places in Tompkins 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 Ithaca

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

Utility gas is the most common heating fuel in Ithaca, used by 62.4% of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

How many homes in Ithaca heat with oil?

2.1% (±1.5 points) of occupied homes in Ithaca use fuel oil or kerosene as their main heating fuel.

How many homes in Ithaca have electric heat?

30.2% (±4.2 points) of occupied homes in Ithaca heat mainly with electricity, which includes heat pumps.

Sources

Selected Housing Characteristics (DP04), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Ithaca city, Tompkins 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 Ithaca city, Tompkins County, New York (county subdivision:38077, in state:36 county:109).

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.