How are homes heated in Asheville, NC?

Name: Heating fuel in Asheville, NC, 2020–2024
Creator: US Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

Electricity is the most common heating fuel in Asheville, used by 63.2% (±2.3 points) of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

28.5% heat with utility gas.

4.3% heat with fuel oil or kerosene.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Utility gas: 28.5% (±2.0 points)
Electricity: 63.2%
Fuel oil, kerosene: 4.3%

Heating fuel in Asheville

Occupied housing units by house heating fuel, 2020–2024
Fuel used most	Asheville	Buncombe County	North Carolina	United States
Utility gas	28.5% (±2.0 points)	20.2%	24.5%	46.5%
Fuel oil, kerosene, etc.	4.3% (±1.0 points)	6.5%	2.0%	3.9%
Electricity	63.2% (±2.3 points)	64.7%	65.5%	41.3%
Bottled or tank gas (propane)	2.3% (±0.6 points)	5.4%	6.0%	4.9%
Wood	0.5% (±0.3 points)	2.0%	1.1%	1.4%
Solar energy	0.6% (±0.3 points)	0.5%	0.1%	0.3%
Coal or coke	0.0% (±0.1 points)	0.0%	0.0%	0.1%
Other fuel	0.2% (±0.1 points)	0.2%	0.2%	0.5%
No fuel used	0.4% (±0.2 points)	0.5%	0.7%	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 Asheville, the share of homes heating with fuel oil is lower than in Buncombe County (6.5%).

It is also higher than in North Carolina (2.0%).

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

In Asheville, the share of homes heating with electricity is not measurably different from Buncombe County (64.7%).

It is not measurably different from North Carolina (65.5%).

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

Homes heated by electricity in places near Asheville

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Asheville
Place	Distance	Homes heated by electricity	Compared with this place
Asheville	—	63.2% (±2.3 points)	—
Biltmore Forest	2.6 mi	28.6% (±5.9 points)	Lower
Emma	3.2 mi	78.5% (±14.8 points)	Higher
Bent Creek	5.5 mi	26.1% (±14.2 points)	Lower
Woodfin	5.7 mi	69.4% (±5.0 points)	Higher
Royal Pines	7.0 mi	43.3% (±12.1 points)	Lower
Avery Creek	7.4 mi	39.1% (±16.3 points)	Lower
Weaverville	8.9 mi	64.4% (±9.7 points)	Not measurably different
Fairview (community)	9.1 mi	65.5% (±17.6 points)	Not measurably different

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Biltmore Forest, NC (28.6%), Bent Creek, NC (26.1%), Royal Pines, NC (43.3%).

Nearby places with a measurably higher figure: Emma, NC (78.5%), Woodfin, NC (69.4%).

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

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

Rank	Place	Homes heated by fuel oil
1	Montreat	24.2% (±32.7 points)
2	Emma	13.2% (±11.8 points)
3	Swannanoa	9.2% (±5.4 points)
4	Woodfin	7.9% (±3.8 points)
5	Asheville	4.3% (±1.0 points)
6	Black Mountain	4.2% (±1.9 points)
7 (tie)	Avery Creek	3.5% (±5.5 points)
7 (tie)	Bent Creek	3.5% (±5.5 points)
9	Royal Pines	2.5% (±2.2 points)
10	Weaverville	2.3% (±2.6 points)
11	Biltmore Forest	1.7% (±2.0 points)

Showing 11 of 12 places in Buncombe 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 Asheville

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

Electricity is the most common heating fuel in Asheville, used by 63.2% of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

How many homes in Asheville heat with oil?

4.3% (±1.0 points) of occupied homes in Asheville use fuel oil or kerosene as their main heating fuel.

How many homes in Asheville have electric heat?

63.2% (±2.3 points) of occupied homes in Asheville heat mainly with electricity, which includes heat pumps.

Sources

Selected Housing Characteristics (DP04), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Asheville city, North Carolina

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 Asheville city, North Carolina (place:02140, in state:37).

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.