How are homes heated in Bristol, RI?

Name: Heating fuel in Bristol, RI, 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 Bristol, used by 51.1% (±4.5 points) of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

10.6% heat with electricity.

31.1% heat with fuel oil or kerosene.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Utility gas: 51.1% (±4.5 points)
Electricity: 10.6%
Fuel oil, kerosene: 31.1%

Heating fuel in Bristol

Occupied housing units by house heating fuel, 2020–2024
Fuel used most	Bristol	Bristol County	Rhode Island	United States
Utility gas	51.1% (±4.5 points)	57.1%	53.0%	46.5%
Fuel oil, kerosene, etc.	31.1% (±4.1 points)	28.1%	26.6%	3.9%
Electricity	10.6% (±3.0 points)	9.2%	13.0%	41.3%
Bottled or tank gas (propane)	5.7% (±2.0 points)	4.5%	5.0%	4.9%
Wood	0.0% (±0.6 points)	0.2%	1.1%	1.4%
Solar energy	0.0% (±0.6 points)	0.1%	0.1%	0.3%
Coal or coke	0.0% (±0.6 points)	0.0%	0.1%	0.1%
Other fuel	1.2% (±1.0 points)	0.8%	0.6%	0.5%
No fuel used	0.2% (±0.3 points)	0.1%	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 Bristol, the share of homes heating with fuel oil is not measurably different from Bristol County (28.1%).

It is also higher than in Rhode Island (26.6%).

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

In Bristol, the share of homes heating with electricity is not measurably different from Bristol County (9.2%).

It is not measurably different from Rhode Island (13.0%).

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

Homes heated by electricity in places near Bristol

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Bristol
Place	Distance	Homes heated by electricity	Compared with this place
Bristol	—	10.6% (±3.0 points)	—
Warren	3.5 mi	11.3% (±2.8 points)	Not measurably different
Tiverton (community)	4.1 mi	5.6% (±2.8 points)	Lower
Barrington	4.6 mi	5.6% (±1.8 points)	Lower
Ocean Grove	4.9 mi	3.6% (±4.7 points)	Lower
Portsmouth	5.8 mi	11.6% (±2.7 points)	Not measurably different
Swansea	6.5 mi	3.3% (±1.9 points)	Lower
Tiverton	6.7 mi	4.9% (±1.8 points)	Lower
Somerset (community)	7.1 mi	4.0% (±1.7 points)	Lower

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Tiverton (community), RI (5.6%), Barrington, RI (5.6%), Ocean Grove, MA (3.6%).

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

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

Rank	Place	Homes heated by fuel oil
1	Bristol	31.1% (±4.1 points)
2	Warren	31.0% (±5.3 points)
3	Barrington	21.5% (±3.2 points)

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 Bristol

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

Utility gas is the most common heating fuel in Bristol, used by 51.1% of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

How many homes in Bristol heat with oil?

31.1% (±4.1 points) of occupied homes in Bristol use fuel oil or kerosene as their main heating fuel.

How many homes in Bristol have electric heat?

10.6% (±3.0 points) of occupied homes in Bristol heat mainly with electricity, which includes heat pumps.

Sources

Selected Housing Characteristics (DP04), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Bristol town, Bristol County, Rhode Island

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 Bristol town, Bristol County, Rhode Island (county subdivision:09280, in state:44 county:001).

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.