How are homes heated in Dobson, NC?

Name: Heating fuel in Dobson, 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 Dobson, used by 77.2% (±8.1 points) of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

8.1% heat with utility gas.

6.4% heat with fuel oil or kerosene.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Utility gas: 8.1% (±5.4 points)
Electricity: 77.2%
Fuel oil, kerosene: 6.4%

Heating fuel in Dobson

Occupied housing units by house heating fuel, 2020–2024
Fuel used most	Dobson	Surry County	North Carolina	United States
Utility gas	8.1% (±5.4 points)	3.0%	24.5%	46.5%
Fuel oil, kerosene, etc.	6.4% (±3.4 points)	9.3%	2.0%	3.9%
Electricity	77.2% (±8.1 points)	73.9%	65.5%	41.3%
Bottled or tank gas (propane)	4.4% (±4.5 points)	7.8%	6.0%	4.9%
Wood	0.0% (±6.9 points)	3.5%	1.1%	1.4%
Solar energy	0.0% (±6.9 points)	0.0%	0.1%	0.3%
Coal or coke	0.0% (±6.9 points)	0.0%	0.0%	0.1%
Other fuel	0.8% (±1.4 points)	0.2%	0.2%	0.5%
No fuel used	3.0% (±3.7 points)	2.2%	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 Dobson, the share of homes heating with fuel oil is not measurably different from Surry County (9.3%).

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

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

In Dobson, the share of homes heating with electricity is not measurably different from Surry County (73.9%).

It is also higher than in North Carolina (65.5%).

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

Homes heated by electricity in places near Dobson

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Dobson
Place	Distance	Homes heated by electricity	Compared with this place
Dobson	—	77.2% (±8.1 points)	—
Mount Airy	10 mi	78.6% (±4.5 points)	Not measurably different
Boonville	11 mi	84.0% (±7.0 points)	Not measurably different
Flat Rock (community)	11 mi	63.7% (±16.6 points)	Not measurably different
Elkin	11 mi	73.0% (±6.9 points)	Not measurably different
Jonesville	12 mi	83.4% (±5.1 points)	Not measurably different
Pilot Mountain	14 mi	71.6% (±8.6 points)	Not measurably different
Ronda	17 mi	74.8% (±9.9 points)	Not measurably different
East Bend	17 mi	65.1% (±13.4 points)	Not measurably different

None of the nearby places differs measurably from this one on this figure.

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

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

Rank	Place	Homes heated by fuel oil
1	Pilot Mountain	15.0% (±6.7 points)
2	Flat Rock (community)	11.8% (±12.0 points)
3	Mount Airy	10.3% (±2.7 points)
4	Elkin	9.9% (±5.2 points)
5	Dobson	6.4% (±3.4 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 Dobson

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

Electricity is the most common heating fuel in Dobson, used by 77.2% of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

How many homes in Dobson heat with oil?

6.4% (±3.4 points) of occupied homes in Dobson use fuel oil or kerosene as their main heating fuel.

How many homes in Dobson have electric heat?

77.2% (±8.1 points) of occupied homes in Dobson heat mainly with electricity, which includes heat pumps.

Sources

Selected Housing Characteristics (DP04), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Dobson town, 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 Dobson town, North Carolina (place:17340, 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.