How are homes heated in Philadelphia, PA?

Name: Heating fuel in Philadelphia, 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 Philadelphia, used by 69.6% (±0.6 points) of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

24.7% heat with electricity.

2.7% heat with fuel oil or kerosene.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Utility gas: 69.6% (±0.6 points)
Electricity: 24.7%
Fuel oil, kerosene: 2.7%

Heating fuel in Philadelphia

Occupied housing units by house heating fuel, 2020–2024
Fuel used most	Philadelphia	Philadelphia County	Pennsylvania	United States
Utility gas	69.6% (±0.6 points)	69.6%	51.3%	46.5%
Fuel oil, kerosene, etc.	2.7% (±0.2 points)	2.7%	14.0%	3.9%
Electricity	24.7% (±0.6 points)	24.7%	25.3%	41.3%
Bottled or tank gas (propane)	1.7% (±0.2 points)	1.7%	5.1%	4.9%
Wood	0.1% (±0.1 points)	0.1%	2.1%	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%	0.8%	0.1%
Other fuel	0.4% (±0.1 points)	0.4%	0.8%	0.5%
No fuel used	0.8% (±0.1 points)	0.8%	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 Philadelphia, the share of homes heating with fuel oil is not measurably different from Philadelphia County (2.7%).

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

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

In Philadelphia, the share of homes heating with electricity is not measurably different from Philadelphia County (24.7%).

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 Philadelphia

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Philadelphia
Place	Distance	Homes heated by electricity	Compared with this place
Philadelphia	—	24.7% (±0.6 points)	—
Oak Lane	3.4 mi	13.0% (±6.4 points)	Lower
Melrose Park	3.8 mi	5.1% (±3.9 points)	Lower
Cheltenham Village	4.3 mi	4.8% (±3.3 points)	Lower
Elkins Park	4.7 mi	29.0% (±6.5 points)	Not measurably different
Cheltenham Township	4.8 mi	25.9% (±2.8 points)	Not measurably different
Pennsauken Township	4.9 mi	16.7% (±3.3 points)	Lower
Bala Cynwyd	5.0 mi	25.2% (±5.8 points)	Not measurably different
Palmyra Borough	5.2 mi	25.2% (±5.4 points)	Not measurably different

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Oak Lane, PA (13.0%), Melrose Park, PA (5.1%), Cheltenham Village, PA (4.8%).

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

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 Philadelphia

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

Utility gas is the most common heating fuel in Philadelphia, used by 69.6% of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

How many homes in Philadelphia heat with oil?

2.7% (±0.2 points) of occupied homes in Philadelphia use fuel oil or kerosene as their main heating fuel.

How many homes in Philadelphia have electric heat?

24.7% (±0.6 points) of occupied homes in Philadelphia heat mainly with electricity, which includes heat pumps.

Sources

Selected Housing Characteristics (DP04), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia city, Pennsylvania (place:60000, 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.