How are homes heated in Salem, NC?

Name: Heating fuel in Salem, 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 Salem, used by 67.1% (±9.7 points) of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

14.4% heat with utility gas.

15.1% heat with fuel oil or kerosene.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Utility gas: 14.4% (±6.3 points)
Electricity: 67.1%
Fuel oil, kerosene: 15.1%

Heating fuel in Salem

Occupied housing units by house heating fuel, 2020–2024
Fuel used most	Salem	Burke County	North Carolina	United States
Utility gas	14.4% (±6.3 points)	11.0%	24.5%	46.5%
Fuel oil, kerosene, etc.	15.1% (±9.0 points)	6.8%	2.0%	3.9%
Electricity	67.1% (±9.7 points)	70.6%	65.5%	41.3%
Bottled or tank gas (propane)	1.2% (±1.6 points)	6.5%	6.0%	4.9%
Wood	2.1% (±2.5 points)	3.6%	1.1%	1.4%
Solar energy	0.0% (±4.0 points)	0.2%	0.1%	0.3%
Coal or coke	0.0% (±4.0 points)	0.0%	0.0%	0.1%
Other fuel	0.0% (±4.0 points)	0.2%	0.2%	0.5%
No fuel used	0.0% (±4.0 points)	1.1%	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 Salem, the share of homes heating with fuel oil is not measurably different from Burke County (6.8%).

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

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

In Salem, the share of homes heating with electricity is not measurably different from Burke County (70.6%).

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 Salem

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Salem
Place	Distance	Homes heated by electricity	Compared with this place
Salem	—	67.1% (±9.7 points)	—
Morganton	2.8 mi	63.3% (±5.1 points)	Not measurably different
Glen Alpine	5.1 mi	56.9% (±11.3 points)	Not measurably different
Drexel	6.5 mi	75.1% (±9.0 points)	Not measurably different
Valdese	8.1 mi	68.2% (±7.6 points)	Not measurably different
Rutherford College	10 mi	72.4% (±9.7 points)	Not measurably different
Connelly Springs	12 mi	86.8% (±6.7 points)	Higher
Nebo	12 mi	49.7% (±22.6 points)	Not measurably different
Gamewell	13 mi	81.1% (±10.2 points)	Not measurably different

Nearby places with a measurably higher figure: Connelly Springs, NC (86.8%).

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

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

Rank	Place	Homes heated by fuel oil
1	Salem	15.1% (±9.0 points)
2	Hildebran	14.0% (±7.9 points)
3	Icard	9.6% (±10.3 points)
4	Glen Alpine	9.0% (±7.0 points)
5	Rhodhiss	7.1% (±5.7 points)
6	Valdese	6.7% (±4.4 points)
7	Connelly Springs	5.6% (±5.0 points)

Showing 7 of 10 places in Burke County, ranked from highest to lowest.

Salem is a census-designated place: an unincorporated community the Census Bureau draws for statistics, with no municipal government of its own.

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 Salem

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

Electricity is the most common heating fuel in Salem, used by 67.1% of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

How many homes in Salem heat with oil?

15.1% (±9.0 points) of occupied homes in Salem use fuel oil or kerosene as their main heating fuel.

How many homes in Salem have electric heat?

67.1% (±9.7 points) of occupied homes in Salem heat mainly with electricity, which includes heat pumps.

Sources

Selected Housing Characteristics (DP04), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Salem CDP, 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 Salem CDP, North Carolina (place:58740, 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.