How are homes heated in Harrisburg, PA?

Name: Heating fuel in Harrisburg, 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 Harrisburg, used by 54.8% (±3.1 points) of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

34.6% heat with electricity.

5.1% heat with fuel oil or kerosene.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Utility gas: 54.8% (±3.1 points)
Electricity: 34.6%
Fuel oil, kerosene: 5.1%

Heating fuel in Harrisburg

Occupied housing units by house heating fuel, 2020–2024
Fuel used most	Harrisburg	Dauphin County	Pennsylvania	United States
Utility gas	54.8% (±3.1 points)	38.3%	51.3%	46.5%
Fuel oil, kerosene, etc.	5.1% (±1.6 points)	15.5%	14.0%	3.9%
Electricity	34.6% (±3.0 points)	37.8%	25.3%	41.3%
Bottled or tank gas (propane)	4.0% (±1.3 points)	4.8%	5.1%	4.9%
Wood	0.0% (±0.1 points)	1.2%	2.1%	1.4%
Solar energy	0.0% (±0.1 points)	0.2%	0.1%	0.3%
Coal or coke	0.0% (±0.1 points)	0.8%	0.8%	0.1%
Other fuel	0.8% (±0.4 points)	0.7%	0.8%	0.5%
No fuel used	0.8% (±0.5 points)	0.6%	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 Harrisburg, the share of homes heating with fuel oil is lower than in Dauphin County (15.5%).

It is also lower than in Pennsylvania (14.0%).

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

In Harrisburg, the share of homes heating with electricity is not measurably different from Dauphin County (37.8%).

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

It is lower than the national figure (41.3%).

Homes heated by electricity in places near Harrisburg

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Harrisburg
Place	Distance	Homes heated by electricity	Compared with this place
Harrisburg	—	34.6% (±3.0 points)	—
Wormleysburg	1.7 mi	49.4% (±8.7 points)	Higher
West Fairview	1.9 mi	31.8% (±16.3 points)	Not measurably different
Penbrook	1.9 mi	16.3% (±7.6 points)	Lower
Lemoyne	2.3 mi	15.6% (±6.4 points)	Lower
Progress	2.6 mi	35.6% (±6.5 points)	Not measurably different
Paxtang	2.8 mi	14.9% (±6.0 points)	Lower
Enola	2.8 mi	51.4% (±7.7 points)	Higher
East Pennsboro Township	2.9 mi	43.2% (±4.1 points)	Higher

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Penbrook, PA (16.3%), Lemoyne, PA (15.6%), Paxtang, PA (14.9%).

Nearby places with a measurably higher figure: Wormleysburg, PA (49.4%), Enola, PA (51.4%), East Pennsboro Township, PA (43.2%).

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

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

Rank	Place	Homes heated by fuel oil
33	Swatara Township (Dauphin County)	12.8% (±2.6 points)
34	East Hanover Township (Dauphin County)	12.5% (±4.8 points)
35	Royalton	12.3% (±11.3 points)
36	Middletown	11.4% (±4.7 points)
37	Susquehanna Township (Dauphin County)	11.0% (±2.2 points)
38	Lower Swatara Township	9.4% (±3.2 points)
39	Harrisburg	5.1% (±1.6 points)
40	Steelton	4.8% (±3.4 points)

Showing 8 of 40 places in Dauphin 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 Harrisburg

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

Utility gas is the most common heating fuel in Harrisburg, used by 54.8% of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

How many homes in Harrisburg heat with oil?

5.1% (±1.6 points) of occupied homes in Harrisburg use fuel oil or kerosene as their main heating fuel.

How many homes in Harrisburg have electric heat?

34.6% (±3.0 points) of occupied homes in Harrisburg heat mainly with electricity, which includes heat pumps.

Sources

Selected Housing Characteristics (DP04), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Harrisburg 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 Harrisburg city, Pennsylvania (place:32800, 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.