How are homes heated in Wilkes-Barre, PA?

Name: Heating fuel in Wilkes-Barre, 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 Wilkes-Barre, used by 72.9% (±2.8 points) of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

20.6% heat with electricity.

2.8% heat with fuel oil or kerosene.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Utility gas: 72.9% (±2.8 points)
Electricity: 20.6%
Fuel oil, kerosene: 2.8%

Heating fuel in Wilkes-Barre

Occupied housing units by house heating fuel, 2020–2024
Fuel used most	Wilkes-Barre	Luzerne County	Pennsylvania	United States
Utility gas	72.9% (±2.8 points)	50.3%	51.3%	46.5%
Fuel oil, kerosene, etc.	2.8% (±1.1 points)	15.8%	14.0%	3.9%
Electricity	20.6% (±2.7 points)	24.0%	25.3%	41.3%
Bottled or tank gas (propane)	2.3% (±0.8 points)	5.4%	5.1%	4.9%
Wood	0.0% (±0.2 points)	1.1%	2.1%	1.4%
Solar energy	0.0% (±0.2 points)	0.1%	0.1%	0.3%
Coal or coke	0.1% (±0.1 points)	2.3%	0.8%	0.1%
Other fuel	0.4% (±0.3 points)	0.6%	0.8%	0.5%
No fuel used	1.0% (±0.4 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 Wilkes-Barre, the share of homes heating with fuel oil is lower than in Luzerne County (15.8%).

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

It is not measurably different from the national figure (3.9%).

In Wilkes-Barre, the share of homes heating with electricity is lower than in Luzerne County (24.0%).

It is also lower than in Pennsylvania (25.3%).

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

Homes heated by electricity in places near Wilkes-Barre

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Wilkes-Barre
Place	Distance	Homes heated by electricity	Compared with this place
Wilkes-Barre	—	20.6% (±2.7 points)	—
Wilkes-Barre Township	1.2 mi	29.6% (±8.8 points)	Not measurably different
Georgetown (community)	1.4 mi	23.9% (±13.7 points)	Not measurably different
Kingston	1.4 mi	26.2% (±4.4 points)	Higher
Edwardsville	2.0 mi	28.1% (±10.1 points)	Not measurably different
Forty Fort	2.3 mi	18.2% (±7.3 points)	Not measurably different
Plains	2.4 mi	18.8% (±6.2 points)	Not measurably different
Laurel Run	2.5 mi	18.5% (±9.7 points)	Not measurably different
Pringle	2.5 mi	16.6% (±5.3 points)	Not measurably different

Nearby places with a measurably higher figure: Kingston, PA (26.2%).

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

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

Rank	Place	Homes heated by fuel oil
67	Luzerne	4.1% (±2.7 points)
68	Courtdale	3.9% (±2.4 points)
69	Larksville	3.6% (±2.8 points)
70	Fairview Township (Luzerne County)	3.5% (±2.7 points)
71	Wilkes-Barre Township	3.4% (±4.9 points)
72	Kingston	3.2% (±2.2 points)
73	Wilkes-Barre	2.8% (±1.1 points)
74 (tie)	Dallas	1.2% (±1.5 points)
74 (tie)	Pringle	1.2% (±1.2 points)
76	Forty Fort	1.0% (±1.5 points)

Showing 10 of 76 places in Luzerne 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 Wilkes-Barre

What is the most common way to heat a home in Wilkes-Barre?

Utility gas is the most common heating fuel in Wilkes-Barre, used by 72.9% of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

How many homes in Wilkes-Barre heat with oil?

2.8% (±1.1 points) of occupied homes in Wilkes-Barre use fuel oil or kerosene as their main heating fuel.

How many homes in Wilkes-Barre have electric heat?

20.6% (±2.7 points) of occupied homes in Wilkes-Barre heat mainly with electricity, which includes heat pumps.

Sources

Selected Housing Characteristics (DP04), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Wilkes-Barre 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 Wilkes-Barre city, Pennsylvania (place:85152, 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.