How are homes heated in Lancaster, PA?

Name: Heating fuel in Lancaster, 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 Lancaster, used by 61.3% (±2.8 points) of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

26.8% heat with electricity.

6.7% heat with fuel oil or kerosene.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Utility gas: 61.3% (±2.8 points)
Electricity: 26.8%
Fuel oil, kerosene: 6.7%

Heating fuel in Lancaster

Occupied housing units by house heating fuel, 2020–2024
Fuel used most	Lancaster	Lancaster County	Pennsylvania	United States
Utility gas	61.3% (±2.8 points)	33.1%	51.3%	46.5%
Fuel oil, kerosene, etc.	6.7% (±1.5 points)	16.2%	14.0%	3.9%
Electricity	26.8% (±2.2 points)	35.5%	25.3%	41.3%
Bottled or tank gas (propane)	1.7% (±0.6 points)	9.0%	5.1%	4.9%
Wood	0.3% (±0.3 points)	2.6%	2.1%	1.4%
Solar energy	0.0% (±0.1 points)	0.2%	0.1%	0.3%
Coal or coke	0.2% (±0.3 points)	1.9%	0.8%	0.1%
Other fuel	1.2% (±0.7 points)	0.9%	0.8%	0.5%
No fuel used	1.9% (±0.8 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 Lancaster, the share of homes heating with fuel oil is lower than in Lancaster County (16.2%).

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

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

In Lancaster, the share of homes heating with electricity is lower than in Lancaster County (35.5%).

It is not measurably different from Pennsylvania (25.3%).

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

Homes heated by electricity in places near Lancaster

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Lancaster
Place	Distance	Homes heated by electricity	Compared with this place
Lancaster	—	26.8% (±2.2 points)	—
Lancaster Township (Lancaster County)	1.9 mi	34.6% (±5.6 points)	Higher
Manheim Township (Lancaster County)	3.4 mi	31.5% (±2.9 points)	Higher
Millersville	3.7 mi	31.9% (±6.5 points)	Not measurably different
West Lampeter Township	4.1 mi	30.7% (±3.5 points)	Not measurably different
Lampeter	4.5 mi	24.1% (±17.8 points)	Not measurably different
Willow Street	4.5 mi	49.0% (±6.1 points)	Higher
East Lampeter Township	4.6 mi	41.9% (±4.6 points)	Higher
Pequea Township	5.0 mi	62.5% (±9.3 points)	Higher

Nearby places with a measurably higher figure: Lancaster Township (Lancaster County), PA (34.6%), Manheim Township (Lancaster County), PA (31.5%), Willow Street, PA (49.0%).

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

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

Rank	Place	Homes heated by fuel oil
53	Mount Joy	10.6% (±3.3 points)
54	Leacock Township	10.0% (±5.4 points)
55	Manheim Township (Lancaster County)	9.4% (±2.1 points)
56	East Hempfield Township	8.9% (±2.4 points)
57	Lancaster Township (Lancaster County)	8.7% (±2.7 points)
58	East Donegal Township	8.1% (±3.8 points)
59	Lancaster	6.7% (±1.5 points)
60	Marietta	4.3% (±2.3 points)

Showing 8 of 60 places in Lancaster 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 Lancaster

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

Utility gas is the most common heating fuel in Lancaster, used by 61.3% of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

How many homes in Lancaster heat with oil?

6.7% (±1.5 points) of occupied homes in Lancaster use fuel oil or kerosene as their main heating fuel.

How many homes in Lancaster have electric heat?

26.8% (±2.2 points) of occupied homes in Lancaster heat mainly with electricity, which includes heat pumps.

Sources

Selected Housing Characteristics (DP04), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Lancaster 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 Lancaster city, Pennsylvania (place:41216, 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.