How are homes heated in Rensselaer, NY?

Name: Heating fuel in Rensselaer, 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 Rensselaer, used by 72.2% (±5.6 points) of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

21.7% heat with electricity.

3.0% heat with fuel oil or kerosene.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Utility gas: 72.2% (±5.6 points)
Electricity: 21.7%
Fuel oil, kerosene: 3.0%

Heating fuel in Rensselaer

Occupied housing units by house heating fuel, 2020–2024
Fuel used most	Rensselaer	Rensselaer County	New York	United States
Utility gas	72.2% (±5.6 points)	47.8%	59.1%	46.5%
Fuel oil, kerosene, etc.	3.0% (±2.2 points)	20.8%	16.1%	3.9%
Electricity	21.7% (±4.7 points)	16.3%	15.4%	41.3%
Bottled or tank gas (propane)	2.2% (±1.9 points)	9.4%	4.9%	4.9%
Wood	0.0% (±1.0 points)	3.7%	1.3%	1.4%
Solar energy	0.0% (±1.0 points)	0.3%	0.1%	0.3%
Coal or coke	0.0% (±1.0 points)	0.1%	0.2%	0.1%
Other fuel	0.0% (±1.0 points)	1.3%	1.3%	0.5%
No fuel used	0.9% (±0.7 points)	0.4%	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 Rensselaer, the share of homes heating with fuel oil is lower than in Rensselaer County (20.8%).

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

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

In Rensselaer, the share of homes heating with electricity is higher than in Rensselaer County (16.3%).

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 Rensselaer

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Rensselaer
Place	Distance	Homes heated by electricity	Compared with this place
Rensselaer	—	21.7% (±4.7 points)	—
Hampton Manor	1.7 mi	16.8% (±5.7 points)	Not measurably different
Village of Menands	3.2 mi	33.9% (±10.2 points)	Higher
Town of East Greenbush	3.3 mi	19.8% (±2.8 points)	Not measurably different
Albany	3.6 mi	31.8% (±1.8 points)	Higher
Town of North Greenbush	3.7 mi	18.1% (±4.3 points)	Not measurably different
East Greenbush (community)	3.8 mi	18.9% (±4.4 points)	Not measurably different
Loudonville	4.7 mi	9.4% (±3.9 points)	Lower
Roessleville	4.8 mi	26.7% (±4.7 points)	Not measurably different

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Loudonville, NY (9.4%).

Nearby places with a measurably higher figure: Village of Menands, NY (33.9%), Albany, NY (31.8%).

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

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

Rank	Place	Homes heated by fuel oil
9	Town of Sand Lake	44.8% (±7.7 points)
10	Town of Grafton	38.4% (±9.3 points)
11	Town of Schodack	38.3% (±4.9 points)
12	Town of Brunswick	24.1% (±3.9 points)
13	Town of East Greenbush	11.1% (±2.3 points)
14	Town of North Greenbush	9.2% (±2.4 points)
15	Rensselaer	3.0% (±2.2 points)
16	Troy	1.3% (±0.6 points)

Showing 8 of 16 places in Rensselaer 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 Rensselaer

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

Utility gas is the most common heating fuel in Rensselaer, used by 72.2% of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

How many homes in Rensselaer heat with oil?

3.0% (±2.2 points) of occupied homes in Rensselaer use fuel oil or kerosene as their main heating fuel.

How many homes in Rensselaer have electric heat?

21.7% (±4.7 points) of occupied homes in Rensselaer heat mainly with electricity, which includes heat pumps.

Sources

Selected Housing Characteristics (DP04), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Rensselaer city, Rensselaer 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 Rensselaer city, Rensselaer County, New York (county subdivision:61148, in state:36 county:083).

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.