How are homes heated in West Chester, PA?

Name: Heating fuel in West Chester, 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 West Chester, used by 49.9% (±5.7 points) of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

35.9% heat with electricity.

8.9% heat with fuel oil or kerosene.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Utility gas: 49.9% (±5.7 points)
Electricity: 35.9%
Fuel oil, kerosene: 8.9%

Heating fuel in West Chester

Occupied housing units by house heating fuel, 2020–2024
Fuel used most	West Chester	Chester County	Pennsylvania	United States
Utility gas	49.9% (±5.7 points)	35.9%	51.3%	46.5%
Fuel oil, kerosene, etc.	8.9% (±2.5 points)	18.3%	14.0%	3.9%
Electricity	35.9% (±5.0 points)	31.1%	25.3%	41.3%
Bottled or tank gas (propane)	3.5% (±1.8 points)	11.8%	5.1%	4.9%
Wood	0.0% (±0.4 points)	1.1%	2.1%	1.4%
Solar energy	0.0% (±0.4 points)	0.1%	0.1%	0.3%
Coal or coke	0.0% (±0.4 points)	0.3%	0.8%	0.1%
Other fuel	1.1% (±1.0 points)	1.0%	0.8%	0.5%
No fuel used	0.8% (±0.6 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 West Chester, the share of homes heating with fuel oil is lower than in Chester County (18.3%).

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

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

In West Chester, the share of homes heating with electricity is not measurably different from Chester County (31.1%).

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 West Chester

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with West Chester
Place	Distance	Homes heated by electricity	Compared with this place
West Chester	—	35.9% (±5.0 points)	—
West Goshen Township	1.1 mi	31.3% (±3.8 points)	Not measurably different
East Bradford Township	2.2 mi	33.9% (±5.1 points)	Not measurably different
Westtown Township	3.0 mi	40.5% (±5.4 points)	Not measurably different
Thornbury Township (Chester County)	3.5 mi	23.8% (±7.9 points)	Lower
East Goshen Township	3.8 mi	51.9% (±4.3 points)	Higher
Birmingham Township	4.3 mi	25.7% (±6.9 points)	Lower
Dilworthtown	4.4 mi	6.6% (±5.1 points)	Lower
West Whiteland Township	4.6 mi	40.5% (±4.5 points)	Not measurably different

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Thornbury Township (Chester County), PA (23.8%), Birmingham Township, PA (25.7%), Dilworthtown, PA (6.6%).

Nearby places with a measurably higher figure: East Goshen Township, PA (51.9%).

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

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

Rank	Place	Homes heated by fuel oil
63	London Grove Township	12.4% (±3.8 points)
64 (tie)	Atglen	11.3% (±6.3 points)
64 (tie)	Upper Uwchlan Township	11.3% (±3.0 points)
66	East Goshen Township	10.8% (±2.6 points)
67	Uwchlan Township	10.7% (±2.6 points)
68	South Coatesville	9.7% (±4.4 points)
69	West Chester	8.9% (±2.5 points)
70	Birmingham Township	8.6% (±4.3 points)
71	West Vincent Township	8.5% (±4.0 points)
72	East Caln Township	7.0% (±5.9 points)
73	Oxford	4.3% (±5.8 points)

Showing 11 of 73 places in Chester 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 West Chester

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

Utility gas is the most common heating fuel in West Chester, used by 49.9% of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

How many homes in West Chester heat with oil?

8.9% (±2.5 points) of occupied homes in West Chester use fuel oil or kerosene as their main heating fuel.

How many homes in West Chester have electric heat?

35.9% (±5.0 points) of occupied homes in West Chester heat mainly with electricity, which includes heat pumps.

Sources

Selected Housing Characteristics (DP04), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — West Chester 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 West Chester borough, Pennsylvania (place:82704, 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.