How are homes heated in Sylva, NC?

Name: Heating fuel in Sylva, 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 Sylva, used by 83.6% (±6.4 points) of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

0.4% heat with utility gas.

5.4% heat with fuel oil or kerosene.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Utility gas: 0.4% (±0.8 points)
Electricity: 83.6%
Fuel oil, kerosene: 5.4%

Heating fuel in Sylva

Occupied housing units by house heating fuel, 2020–2024
Fuel used most	Sylva	Jackson County	North Carolina	United States
Utility gas	0.4% (±0.8 points)	2.4%	24.5%	46.5%
Fuel oil, kerosene, etc.	5.4% (±3.3 points)	4.4%	2.0%	3.9%
Electricity	83.6% (±6.4 points)	69.7%	65.5%	41.3%
Bottled or tank gas (propane)	6.0% (±3.1 points)	18.0%	6.0%	4.9%
Wood	0.0% (±4.0 points)	4.9%	1.1%	1.4%
Solar energy	0.0% (±4.0 points)	0.1%	0.1%	0.3%
Coal or coke	3.3% (±4.6 points)	0.2%	0.0%	0.1%
Other fuel	1.3% (±1.9 points)	0.1%	0.2%	0.5%
No fuel used	0.0% (±4.0 points)	0.4%	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 Sylva, the share of homes heating with fuel oil is not measurably different from Jackson County (4.4%).

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

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

In Sylva, the share of homes heating with electricity is higher than in Jackson County (69.7%).

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 Sylva

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Sylva
Place	Distance	Homes heated by electricity	Compared with this place
Sylva	—	83.6% (±6.4 points)	—
Webster	1.8 mi	80.7% (±10.0 points)	Not measurably different
Dillsboro	2.0 mi	85.0% (±12.4 points)	Not measurably different
Cullowhee	5.0 mi	94.0% (±3.6 points)	Higher
Forest Hills	5.7 mi	87.2% (±9.3 points)	Not measurably different
Cherokee	8.9 mi	51.5% (±13.6 points)	Lower
Bryson City	13 mi	87.5% (±6.2 points)	Not measurably different
Maggie Valley	14 mi	75.4% (±6.9 points)	Not measurably different
Waynesville	15 mi	66.9% (±4.1 points)	Lower

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Cherokee, NC (51.5%), Waynesville, NC (66.9%).

Nearby places with a measurably higher figure: Cullowhee, NC (94.0%).

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

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

Rank	Place	Homes heated by fuel oil
1	Webster	5.8% (±6.0 points)
2	Sylva	5.4% (±3.3 points)
3	Forest Hills	2.8% (±4.0 points)
4	Cullowhee	0.5% (±0.9 points)
5	Dillsboro	0.0% (±30.4 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 Sylva

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

Electricity is the most common heating fuel in Sylva, used by 83.6% of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

How many homes in Sylva heat with oil?

5.4% (±3.3 points) of occupied homes in Sylva use fuel oil or kerosene as their main heating fuel.

How many homes in Sylva have electric heat?

83.6% (±6.4 points) of occupied homes in Sylva heat mainly with electricity, which includes heat pumps.

Sources

Selected Housing Characteristics (DP04), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Sylva 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 Sylva town, North Carolina (place:66500, 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.