How are homes heated in Winston-Salem, NC?

Name: Heating fuel in Winston-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 Winston-Salem, used by 60.6% (±1.3 points) of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

32.0% heat with utility gas.

4.1% heat with fuel oil or kerosene.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Utility gas: 32.0% (±1.2 points)
Electricity: 60.6%
Fuel oil, kerosene: 4.1%

Heating fuel in Winston-Salem

Occupied housing units by house heating fuel, 2020–2024
Fuel used most	Winston-Salem	Forsyth County	North Carolina	United States
Utility gas	32.0% (±1.2 points)	29.1%	24.5%	46.5%
Fuel oil, kerosene, etc.	4.1% (±0.5 points)	3.9%	2.0%	3.9%
Electricity	60.6% (±1.3 points)	63.3%	65.5%	41.3%
Bottled or tank gas (propane)	1.9% (±0.5 points)	2.3%	6.0%	4.9%
Wood	0.2% (±0.1 points)	0.4%	1.1%	1.4%
Solar energy	0.1% (±0.1 points)	0.1%	0.1%	0.3%
Coal or coke	0.0% (±0.1 points)	0.0%	0.0%	0.1%
Other fuel	0.2% (±0.1 points)	0.2%	0.2%	0.5%
No fuel used	0.8% (±0.2 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 Winston-Salem, the share of homes heating with fuel oil is not measurably different from Forsyth County (3.9%).

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

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

In Winston-Salem, the share of homes heating with electricity is lower than in Forsyth County (63.3%).

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 Winston-Salem

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Winston-Salem
Place	Distance	Homes heated by electricity	Compared with this place
Winston-Salem	—	60.6% (±1.3 points)	—
Walkertown	6.1 mi	68.3% (±6.3 points)	Higher
Bethania	6.7 mi	74.2% (±12.9 points)	Higher
Wallburg	8.1 mi	76.8% (±10.8 points)	Higher
Clemmons	8.5 mi	63.9% (±4.2 points)	Not measurably different
Rural Hall	8.6 mi	80.9% (±8.6 points)	Higher
Midway	9.1 mi	73.5% (±8.7 points)	Higher
Lewisville	9.1 mi	71.2% (±5.7 points)	Higher
Kernersville	10.0 mi	61.3% (±3.6 points)	Not measurably different

Nearby places with a measurably higher figure: Walkertown, NC (68.3%), Bethania, NC (74.2%), Wallburg, NC (76.8%).

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

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

Rank	Place	Homes heated by fuel oil
1	Bethania	15.1% (±9.7 points)
2	Walkertown	8.1% (±3.1 points)
3	Tobaccoville	4.4% (±2.5 points)
4	Winston-Salem	4.1% (±0.5 points)
5	Lewisville	3.2% (±1.3 points)
6	Clemmons	1.9% (±0.9 points)
7	Kernersville	1.1% (±0.7 points)
8	Rural Hall	0.7% (±1.3 points)
9	Germanton	0.0% (±9.4 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 Winston-Salem

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

Electricity is the most common heating fuel in Winston-Salem, used by 60.6% of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

How many homes in Winston-Salem heat with oil?

4.1% (±0.5 points) of occupied homes in Winston-Salem use fuel oil or kerosene as their main heating fuel.

How many homes in Winston-Salem have electric heat?

60.6% (±1.3 points) of occupied homes in Winston-Salem heat mainly with electricity, which includes heat pumps.

Sources

Selected Housing Characteristics (DP04), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Winston-Salem 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 Winston-Salem city, North Carolina (place:75000, 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.