How are homes heated in Reading, PA?

Name: Heating fuel in Reading, 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 Reading, used by 54.1% (±2.1 points) of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

28.2% heat with electricity.

14.0% heat with fuel oil or kerosene.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Utility gas: 54.1% (±2.1 points)
Electricity: 28.2%
Fuel oil, kerosene: 14.0%

Heating fuel in Reading

Occupied housing units by house heating fuel, 2020–2024
Fuel used most	Reading	Berks County	Pennsylvania	United States
Utility gas	54.1% (±2.1 points)	42.3%	51.3%	46.5%
Fuel oil, kerosene, etc.	14.0% (±1.5 points)	22.9%	14.0%	3.9%
Electricity	28.2% (±2.1 points)	22.9%	25.3%	41.3%
Bottled or tank gas (propane)	2.5% (±0.7 points)	7.0%	5.1%	4.9%
Wood	0.1% (±0.1 points)	2.7%	2.1%	1.4%
Solar energy	0.0% (±0.1 points)	0.1%	0.1%	0.3%
Coal or coke	0.0% (±0.1 points)	0.6%	0.8%	0.1%
Other fuel	0.6% (±0.4 points)	0.9%	0.8%	0.5%
No fuel used	0.5% (±0.3 points)	0.5%	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 Reading, the share of homes heating with fuel oil is lower than in Berks County (22.9%).

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

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

In Reading, the share of homes heating with electricity is higher than in Berks County (22.9%).

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 Reading

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Reading
Place	Distance	Homes heated by electricity	Compared with this place
Reading	—	28.2% (±2.1 points)	—
West Reading	1.1 mi	23.0% (±7.7 points)	Not measurably different
Mount Penn	2.1 mi	18.8% (±9.0 points)	Lower
Wyomissing	2.1 mi	25.9% (±4.5 points)	Not measurably different
Lower Alsace Township	2.2 mi	5.9% (±4.4 points)	Lower
Kenhorst	2.4 mi	6.1% (±4.9 points)	Lower
Hyde Park (community)	2.5 mi	17.1% (±8.4 points)	Lower
Pennside	2.6 mi	14.3% (±6.1 points)	Lower
Grill	2.8 mi	29.0% (±14.6 points)	Not measurably different

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Mount Penn, PA (18.8%), Lower Alsace Township, PA (5.9%), Kenhorst, PA (6.1%).

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

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

Rank	Place	Homes heated by fuel oil
57	Exeter Township (Berks County)	18.9% (±3.4 points)
58	Mohnton	17.3% (±6.5 points)
59	Womelsdorf	16.3% (±11.4 points)
60	Muhlenberg Township	16.2% (±3.6 points)
61	Laureldale	16.1% (±5.5 points)
62	Birdsboro	14.5% (±5.4 points)
63	Reading	14.0% (±1.5 points)
64	Maidencreek Township	13.9% (±4.3 points)
65	Mount Penn	13.3% (±6.2 points)
66	Amity Township (Berks County)	12.7% (±3.2 points)
67	Sinking Spring	12.2% (±6.4 points)
68	Spring Township (Berks County)	12.0% (±2.3 points)
69	St. Lawrence	11.1% (±3.3 points)

Showing 13 of 72 places in Berks 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.

What you can do on Seayora in Reading

One account for renting, owning, managing and fixing homes, with these figures beside you.

Do repairs, renovations or maintenance?

Get found by owners and renters near Reading, and send estimates and invoices from your phone.

Join as a pro · Find a pro

Own or manage a rental?

List it, sign the lease and collect rent online, with the figures for Reading beside you.

Create a landlord account · See what landlords get

Looking for a place to rent?

Browse homes for rent near Reading, save the ones you like and apply online.

Browse rentals · Create a renter account

Questions about Reading

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

Utility gas is the most common heating fuel in Reading, used by 54.1% of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

How many homes in Reading heat with oil?

14.0% (±1.5 points) of occupied homes in Reading use fuel oil or kerosene as their main heating fuel.

How many homes in Reading have electric heat?

28.2% (±2.1 points) of occupied homes in Reading heat mainly with electricity, which includes heat pumps.

Sources

Selected Housing Characteristics (DP04), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Reading 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 Reading city, Pennsylvania (place:63624, 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.