How are homes heated in Portland, PA?

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

Fuel oil or kerosene is the most common heating fuel in Portland, used by 53.2% (±14.0 points) of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

3.4% heat with utility gas.

31.5% heat with electricity.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Utility gas: 3.4% (±5.8 points)
Electricity: 31.5%
Fuel oil, kerosene: 53.2%

Heating fuel in Portland

Occupied housing units by house heating fuel, 2020–2024
Fuel used most	Portland	Northampton County	Pennsylvania	United States
Utility gas	3.4% (±5.8 points)	39.5%	51.3%	46.5%
Fuel oil, kerosene, etc.	53.2% (±14.0 points)	21.5%	14.0%	3.9%
Electricity	31.5% (±14.1 points)	31.3%	25.3%	41.3%
Bottled or tank gas (propane)	4.3% (±3.6 points)	4.3%	5.1%	4.9%
Wood	6.8% (±7.3 points)	1.4%	2.1%	1.4%
Solar energy	0.0% (±12.9 points)	0.1%	0.1%	0.3%
Coal or coke	0.0% (±12.9 points)	0.6%	0.8%	0.1%
Other fuel	0.9% (±1.4 points)	0.8%	0.8%	0.5%
No fuel used	0.0% (±12.9 points)	0.4%	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 Portland, the share of homes heating with fuel oil is higher than in Northampton County (21.5%).

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

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

In Portland, the share of homes heating with electricity is not measurably different from Northampton County (31.3%).

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

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

Homes heated by electricity in places near Portland

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Portland
Place	Distance	Homes heated by electricity	Compared with this place
Portland	—	31.5% (±14.1 points)	—
Knowlton Township	2.0 mi	19.3% (±6.1 points)	Not measurably different
Upper Mount Bethel Township	2.4 mi	15.7% (±4.9 points)	Lower
Delaware Water Gap	3.7 mi	28.0% (±9.9 points)	Not measurably different
East Bangor	5.4 mi	30.2% (±10.1 points)	Not measurably different
Hope Township	6.4 mi	8.3% (±4.9 points)	Lower
Belvidere Town	6.5 mi	10.9% (±4.0 points)	Lower
Stroudsburg	6.6 mi	40.0% (±9.1 points)	Not measurably different
Blairstown Township	6.6 mi	14.9% (±6.9 points)	Lower

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Upper Mount Bethel Township, PA (15.7%), Hope Township, NJ (8.3%), Belvidere Town, NJ (10.9%).

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

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

Rank	Place	Homes heated by fuel oil
1	Upper Mount Bethel Township	55.9% (±7.7 points)
2	Chapman	54.4% (±15.5 points)
3	Lower Mount Bethel Township	53.5% (±9.8 points)
4 (tie)	Portland	53.2% (±14.0 points)
4 (tie)	Washington Township (Northampton County)	53.2% (±9.1 points)
6	Roseto	52.1% (±8.0 points)
7	Stockertown	50.7% (±10.4 points)
8	Lehigh Township (Northampton County)	47.0% (±6.7 points)
9	Tatamy	44.0% (±9.6 points)
10	Walnutport	43.6% (±10.2 points)

Showing 10 of 38 places in Northampton 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 Portland

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

Fuel oil or kerosene is the most common heating fuel in Portland, used by 53.2% of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

How many homes in Portland heat with oil?

53.2% (±14.0 points) of occupied homes in Portland use fuel oil or kerosene as their main heating fuel.

How many homes in Portland have electric heat?

31.5% (±14.1 points) of occupied homes in Portland heat mainly with electricity, which includes heat pumps.

Sources

Selected Housing Characteristics (DP04), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Portland borough, 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 Portland borough, Pennsylvania (place:62264, 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.