How are homes heated in Schenectady, NY?

Name: Heating fuel in Schenectady, 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 Schenectady, used by 71.4% (±2.4 points) of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

21.8% heat with electricity.

1.9% heat with fuel oil or kerosene.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Utility gas: 71.4% (±2.4 points)
Electricity: 21.8%
Fuel oil, kerosene: 1.9%

Heating fuel in Schenectady

Occupied housing units by house heating fuel, 2020–2024
Fuel used most	Schenectady	Schenectady County	New York	United States
Utility gas	71.4% (±2.4 points)	69.1%	59.1%	46.5%
Fuel oil, kerosene, etc.	1.9% (±0.6 points)	5.4%	16.1%	3.9%
Electricity	21.8% (±2.2 points)	17.9%	15.4%	41.3%
Bottled or tank gas (propane)	3.2% (±0.9 points)	5.0%	4.9%	4.9%
Wood	0.1% (±0.1 points)	0.9%	1.3%	1.4%
Solar energy	0.2% (±0.3 points)	0.4%	0.1%	0.3%
Coal or coke	0.0% (±0.1 points)	0.1%	0.2%	0.1%
Other fuel	0.4% (±0.3 points)	0.4%	1.3%	0.5%
No fuel used	1.1% (±0.5 points)	1.0%	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 Schenectady, the share of homes heating with fuel oil is lower than in Schenectady County (5.4%).

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

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

In Schenectady, the share of homes heating with electricity is higher than in Schenectady County (17.9%).

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 Schenectady

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Schenectady
Place	Distance	Homes heated by electricity	Compared with this place
Schenectady	—	21.8% (±2.2 points)	—
Niskayuna (community)	2.0 mi	9.9% (±3.1 points)	Lower
Rotterdam (community)	2.3 mi	18.4% (±2.8 points)	Not measurably different
Village of Scotia	2.6 mi	19.2% (±6.8 points)	Not measurably different
Town of Niskayuna	2.7 mi	9.8% (±2.9 points)	Lower
East Glenville	4.2 mi	20.9% (±3.4 points)	Not measurably different
Town of Rotterdam	4.3 mi	18.9% (±2.3 points)	Not measurably different
Town of Clifton Park	6.6 mi	13.0% (±1.9 points)	Lower
Town of Glenville	6.7 mi	15.2% (±2.4 points)	Lower

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Niskayuna (community), NY (9.9%), Town of Niskayuna, NY (9.8%), Town of Clifton Park, NY (13.0%).

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

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

Rank	Place	Homes heated by fuel oil
1	Town of Princetown	46.0% (±9.2 points)
2	Town of Duanesburg	40.3% (±8.6 points)
3	Town of Glenville	6.9% (±1.4 points)
4	Town of Rotterdam	4.3% (±1.0 points)
5	Town of Niskayuna	3.1% (±1.3 points)
6	Schenectady	1.9% (±0.6 points)

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 Schenectady

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

Utility gas is the most common heating fuel in Schenectady, used by 71.4% of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

How many homes in Schenectady heat with oil?

1.9% (±0.6 points) of occupied homes in Schenectady use fuel oil or kerosene as their main heating fuel.

How many homes in Schenectady have electric heat?

21.8% (±2.2 points) of occupied homes in Schenectady heat mainly with electricity, which includes heat pumps.

Sources

Selected Housing Characteristics (DP04), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Schenectady city, Schenectady 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 Schenectady city, Schenectady County, New York (county subdivision:65508, in state:36 county:093).

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.