How are homes heated in Allentown, PA?

Name: Heating fuel in Allentown, PA, 2020–2024
Creator: US Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

Utility gas is the most common heating fuel in Allentown, used by 44.2% (±2.4 points) of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

39.5% heat with electricity.

14.1% heat with fuel oil or kerosene.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Utility gas: 44.2% (±2.4 points)
Electricity: 39.5%
Fuel oil, kerosene: 14.1%

Heating fuel in Allentown

Occupied housing units by house heating fuel, 2020–2024
Fuel used most	Allentown	Lehigh County	Pennsylvania	United States
Utility gas	44.2% (±2.4 points)	34.7%	51.3%	46.5%
Fuel oil, kerosene, etc.	14.1% (±1.2 points)	18.4%	14.0%	3.9%
Electricity	39.5% (±2.2 points)	40.7%	25.3%	41.3%
Bottled or tank gas (propane)	1.2% (±0.4 points)	3.2%	5.1%	4.9%
Wood	0.2% (±0.1 points)	1.4%	2.1%	1.4%
Solar energy	0.1% (±0.1 points)	0.2%	0.1%	0.3%
Coal or coke	0.1% (±0.1 points)	0.4%	0.8%	0.1%
Other fuel	0.3% (±0.2 points)	0.7%	0.8%	0.5%
No fuel used	0.3% (±0.2 points)	0.3%	0.5%	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 Allentown, the share of homes heating with fuel oil is lower than in Lehigh County (18.4%).

It is not measurably different from Pennsylvania (14.0%).

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

In Allentown, the share of homes heating with electricity is not measurably different from Lehigh County (40.7%).

It is also higher than in Pennsylvania (25.3%).

It is not measurably different from the national figure (41.3%).

Homes heated by electricity in places near Allentown

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Allentown
Place	Distance	Homes heated by electricity	Compared with this place
Allentown	—	39.5% (±2.2 points)	—
Dorneyville	2.5 mi	42.1% (±8.4 points)	Not measurably different
Fullerton	2.6 mi	60.2% (±5.4 points)	Higher
Salisbury Township (Lehigh County)	2.6 mi	45.7% (±5.3 points)	Higher
Cetronia	3.5 mi	43.0% (±12.3 points)	Not measurably different
South Whitehall Township	3.9 mi	50.5% (±4.5 points)	Higher
Emmaus	4.2 mi	34.4% (±4.9 points)	Not measurably different
Catasauqua	4.3 mi	42.4% (±8.7 points)	Not measurably different
Fountain Hill	4.4 mi	38.2% (±8.4 points)	Not measurably different

Nearby places with a measurably higher figure: Fullerton, PA (60.2%), Salisbury Township (Lehigh County), PA (45.7%), South Whitehall Township, PA (50.5%).

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

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

Rank	Place	Homes heated by fuel oil
13	Emmaus	23.9% (±5.2 points)
14	Catasauqua	21.6% (±6.9 points)
15	Alburtis	20.5% (±6.4 points)
16	Upper Saucon Township	20.1% (±3.6 points)
17	Fountain Hill	17.3% (±5.9 points)
18	Whitehall Township	15.5% (±2.7 points)
19	Allentown	14.1% (±1.2 points)
20	Coplay	11.8% (±5.9 points)
21	Macungie	11.6% (±6.3 points)
22	Upper Macungie Township	11.0% (±3.5 points)
23	Lower Macungie Township	9.0% (±3.8 points)
24	Hanover Township (Lehigh County)	8.5% (±4.9 points)

Showing 12 of 24 places in Lehigh County, ranked from highest to lowest.

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 Allentown

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

Utility gas is the most common heating fuel in Allentown, used by 44.2% of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

How many homes in Allentown heat with oil?

14.1% (±1.2 points) of occupied homes in Allentown use fuel oil or kerosene as their main heating fuel.

How many homes in Allentown have electric heat?

39.5% (±2.2 points) of occupied homes in Allentown heat mainly with electricity, which includes heat pumps.

Sources

Selected Housing Characteristics (DP04), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Allentown city, Pennsylvania

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 Allentown city, Pennsylvania (place:02000, in state:42).

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.