How are homes heated in Rochester, NY?

Name: Heating fuel in Rochester, 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 Rochester, used by 71.7% (±1.3 points) of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

22.1% heat with electricity.

1.4% heat with fuel oil or kerosene.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Utility gas: 71.7% (±1.3 points)
Electricity: 22.1%
Fuel oil, kerosene: 1.4%

Heating fuel in Rochester

Occupied housing units by house heating fuel, 2020–2024
Fuel used most	Rochester	Monroe County	New York	United States
Utility gas	71.7% (±1.3 points)	74.6%	59.1%	46.5%
Fuel oil, kerosene, etc.	1.4% (±0.3 points)	1.3%	16.1%	3.9%
Electricity	22.1% (±1.2 points)	19.9%	15.4%	41.3%
Bottled or tank gas (propane)	2.4% (±0.4 points)	2.3%	4.9%	4.9%
Wood	0.1% (±0.1 points)	0.5%	1.3%	1.4%
Solar energy	0.0% (±0.1 points)	0.0%	0.1%	0.3%
Coal or coke	0.0% (±0.1 points)	0.0%	0.2%	0.1%
Other fuel	0.8% (±0.2 points)	0.5%	1.3%	0.5%
No fuel used	1.5% (±0.3 points)	0.9%	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 Rochester, the share of homes heating with fuel oil is not measurably different from Monroe County (1.3%).

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

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

In Rochester, the share of homes heating with electricity is higher than in Monroe County (19.9%).

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 Rochester

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Rochester
Place	Distance	Homes heated by electricity	Compared with this place
Rochester	—	22.1% (±1.2 points)	—
Irondequoit (community)	3.6 mi	15.7% (±2.1 points)	Lower
Town of Irondequoit	3.6 mi	15.7% (±2.1 points)	Lower
Gates (community)	3.9 mi	7.1% (±5.3 points)	Lower
Brighton	4.0 mi	23.2% (±2.7 points)	Not measurably different
Town of Brighton (Monroe County)	4.0 mi	23.2% (±2.7 points)	Not measurably different
North Gates	4.5 mi	21.8% (±4.2 points)	Not measurably different
Town of Gates	5.0 mi	16.6% (±2.4 points)	Lower
Greece (community)	5.1 mi	17.3% (±4.2 points)	Lower

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Irondequoit (community), NY (15.7%), Town of Irondequoit, NY (15.7%), Gates (community), NY (7.1%).

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

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

Rank	Place	Homes heated by fuel oil
6	Town of Clarkson	3.1% (±2.3 points)
7	Town of Hamlin	3.0% (±1.6 points)
8	Town of East Rochester	2.5% (±1.6 points)
9	Town of Pittsford	1.6% (±0.7 points)
10 (tie)	Town of Chili	1.5% (±0.8 points)
10 (tie)	Town of Penfield	1.5% (±0.7 points)
12	Rochester	1.4% (±0.3 points)
13	Town of Ogden	1.2% (±0.8 points)
14	Town of Henrietta	1.0% (±0.7 points)
15	Town of Greece	0.9% (±0.4 points)
16 (tie)	Town of Brighton (Monroe County)	0.7% (±0.5 points)
16 (tie)	Town of Gates	0.7% (±0.6 points)
16 (tie)	Town of Perinton	0.7% (±0.3 points)

Showing 13 of 21 places in Monroe 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 Rochester

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

Utility gas is the most common heating fuel in Rochester, used by 71.7% of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

How many homes in Rochester heat with oil?

1.4% (±0.3 points) of occupied homes in Rochester use fuel oil or kerosene as their main heating fuel.

How many homes in Rochester have electric heat?

22.1% (±1.2 points) of occupied homes in Rochester heat mainly with electricity, which includes heat pumps.

Sources

Selected Housing Characteristics (DP04), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Rochester city, Monroe 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 Rochester city, Monroe County, New York (county subdivision:63000, in state:36 county:055).

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.