How are homes heated in Hickory, NC?

Name: Heating fuel in Hickory, 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 Hickory, used by 61.2% (±3.1 points) of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

35.1% heat with utility gas.

1.6% heat with fuel oil or kerosene.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Utility gas: 35.1% (±2.9 points)
Electricity: 61.2%
Fuel oil, kerosene: 1.6%

Heating fuel in Hickory

Occupied housing units by house heating fuel, 2020–2024
Fuel used most	Hickory	Catawba County	North Carolina	United States
Utility gas	35.1% (±2.9 points)	18.8%	24.5%	46.5%
Fuel oil, kerosene, etc.	1.6% (±0.9 points)	1.7%	2.0%	3.9%
Electricity	61.2% (±3.1 points)	73.4%	65.5%	41.3%
Bottled or tank gas (propane)	0.9% (±0.6 points)	3.9%	6.0%	4.9%
Wood	0.1% (±0.1 points)	1.0%	1.1%	1.4%
Solar energy	0.0% (±0.2 points)	0.0%	0.1%	0.3%
Coal or coke	0.0% (±0.2 points)	0.0%	0.0%	0.1%
Other fuel	0.5% (±0.5 points)	0.3%	0.2%	0.5%
No fuel used	0.5% (±0.4 points)	0.8%	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 Hickory, the share of homes heating with fuel oil is not measurably different from Catawba County (1.7%).

It is not measurably different from North Carolina (2.0%).

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

In Hickory, the share of homes heating with electricity is lower than in Catawba County (73.4%).

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

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

Homes heated by electricity in places near Hickory

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Hickory
Place	Distance	Homes heated by electricity	Compared with this place
Hickory	—	61.2% (±3.1 points)	—
Brookford	2.9 mi	72.4% (±20.1 points)	Not measurably different
St. Stephens	3.2 mi	65.2% (±6.0 points)	Not measurably different
Long View	3.8 mi	70.5% (±7.8 points)	Higher
Northlakes	3.9 mi	75.3% (±10.9 points)	Higher
Mountain View	4.8 mi	86.5% (±7.6 points)	Higher
Bethlehem	5.5 mi	62.8% (±10.3 points)	Not measurably different
Hildebran	5.8 mi	66.6% (±9.6 points)	Not measurably different
Conover	6.0 mi	72.3% (±7.6 points)	Higher

Nearby places with a measurably higher figure: Long View, NC (70.5%), Northlakes, NC (75.3%), Mountain View, NC (86.5%).

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

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

Rank	Place	Homes heated by fuel oil
1	Catawba	8.2% (±7.1 points)
2	Long View	3.5% (±3.0 points)
3	Brookford	2.9% (±3.4 points)
4 (tie)	Mountain View	1.8% (±2.9 points)
4 (tie)	Newton	1.8% (±1.9 points)
6 (tie)	Hickory	1.6% (±0.9 points)
6 (tie)	Maiden	1.6% (±2.7 points)
8	Lake Norman of Catawba	1.2% (±1.2 points)
9	Claremont	0.9% (±1.4 points)
10	St. Stephens	0.6% (±0.8 points)
11	Conover	0.0% (±1.3 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 Hickory

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

Electricity is the most common heating fuel in Hickory, used by 61.2% of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

How many homes in Hickory heat with oil?

1.6% (±0.9 points) of occupied homes in Hickory use fuel oil or kerosene as their main heating fuel.

How many homes in Hickory have electric heat?

61.2% (±3.1 points) of occupied homes in Hickory heat mainly with electricity, which includes heat pumps.

Sources

Selected Housing Characteristics (DP04), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Hickory 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 Hickory city, North Carolina (place:31060, 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.