How are homes heated in Sanford, NC?

Name: Heating fuel in Sanford, 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 Sanford, used by 68.8% (±4.1 points) of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

24.9% heat with utility gas.

0.5% heat with fuel oil or kerosene.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Utility gas: 24.9% (±3.7 points)
Electricity: 68.8%
Fuel oil, kerosene: 0.5%

Heating fuel in Sanford

Occupied housing units by house heating fuel, 2020–2024
Fuel used most	Sanford	Lee County	North Carolina	United States
Utility gas	24.9% (±3.7 points)	13.2%	24.5%	46.5%
Fuel oil, kerosene, etc.	0.5% (±0.6 points)	0.5%	2.0%	3.9%
Electricity	68.8% (±4.1 points)	77.7%	65.5%	41.3%
Bottled or tank gas (propane)	5.0% (±2.2 points)	7.0%	6.0%	4.9%
Wood	0.0% (±0.4 points)	0.5%	1.1%	1.4%
Solar energy	0.0% (±0.4 points)	0.0%	0.1%	0.3%
Coal or coke	0.0% (±0.4 points)	0.0%	0.0%	0.1%
Other fuel	0.1% (±0.1 points)	0.2%	0.2%	0.5%
No fuel used	0.6% (±0.5 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 Sanford, the share of homes heating with fuel oil is not measurably different from Lee County (0.5%).

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

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

In Sanford, the share of homes heating with electricity is lower than in Lee County (77.7%).

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 Sanford

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Sanford
Place	Distance	Homes heated by electricity	Compared with this place
Sanford	—	68.8% (±4.1 points)	—
Broadway	7.2 mi	90.4% (±5.3 points)	Higher
Goldston	11 mi	22.0% (±19.1 points)	Lower
Moncure	11 mi	67.7% (±24.3 points)	Not measurably different
Cameron	12 mi	68.7% (±18.4 points)	Not measurably different
Barbecue	14 mi	95.2% (±3.6 points)	Higher
Pittsboro	16 mi	43.2% (±8.8 points)	Lower
Spout Springs	17 mi	91.6% (±5.3 points)	Higher
Vass	18 mi	91.6% (±6.3 points)	Higher

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Goldston, NC (22.0%), Pittsboro, NC (43.2%).

Nearby places with a measurably higher figure: Broadway, NC (90.4%), Barbecue, NC (95.2%), Spout Springs, NC (91.6%).

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

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 Sanford

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

Electricity is the most common heating fuel in Sanford, used by 68.8% of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

How many homes in Sanford heat with oil?

0.5% (±0.6 points) of occupied homes in Sanford use fuel oil or kerosene as their main heating fuel.

How many homes in Sanford have electric heat?

68.8% (±4.1 points) of occupied homes in Sanford heat mainly with electricity, which includes heat pumps.

Sources

Selected Housing Characteristics (DP04), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Sanford 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 Sanford city, North Carolina (place:59280, 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.