How are homes heated in Charlestown, RI?

Name: Heating fuel in Charlestown, RI, 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 Charlestown, used by 59.2% (±6.4 points) of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

2.2% heat with utility gas.

14.8% heat with electricity.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Utility gas: 2.2% (±1.5 points)
Electricity: 14.8%
Fuel oil, kerosene: 59.2%

Heating fuel in Charlestown

Occupied housing units by house heating fuel, 2020–2024
Fuel used most	Charlestown	Washington County	Rhode Island	United States
Utility gas	2.2% (±1.5 points)	30.2%	53.0%	46.5%
Fuel oil, kerosene, etc.	59.2% (±6.4 points)	40.5%	26.6%	3.9%
Electricity	14.8% (±4.0 points)	14.8%	13.0%	41.3%
Bottled or tank gas (propane)	15.3% (±4.7 points)	10.2%	5.0%	4.9%
Wood	5.9% (±2.6 points)	2.8%	1.1%	1.4%
Solar energy	0.0% (±1.4 points)	0.2%	0.1%	0.3%
Coal or coke	0.0% (±1.4 points)	0.2%	0.1%	0.1%
Other fuel	2.2% (±1.6 points)	0.8%	0.6%	0.5%
No fuel used	0.3% (±0.4 points)	0.2%	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 Charlestown, the share of homes heating with fuel oil is higher than in Washington County (40.5%).

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

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

In Charlestown, the share of homes heating with electricity is not measurably different from Washington County (14.8%).

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 Charlestown

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Charlestown
Place	Distance	Homes heated by electricity	Compared with this place
Charlestown	—	14.8% (±4.0 points)	—
Bradford	4.5 mi	4.2% (±3.8 points)	Lower
Carolina	6.2 mi	0.0% (±14.8 points)	Not measurably different
Westerly (community)	6.6 mi	20.2% (±3.9 points)	Not measurably different
Ashaway	6.7 mi	9.9% (±8.1 points)	Not measurably different
Westerly	7.1 mi	18.7% (±3.3 points)	Not measurably different
South Kingstown	7.4 mi	14.8% (±2.6 points)	Not measurably different
Hopkinton	8.5 mi	12.4% (±4.5 points)	Not measurably different
Richmond	8.5 mi	4.4% (±3.0 points)	Lower

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Bradford, RI (4.2%), Richmond, RI (4.4%).

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

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

Rank	Place	Homes heated by fuel oil
1	Richmond	71.1% (±7.0 points)
2	Hopkinton	65.8% (±6.2 points)
3	Charlestown	59.2% (±6.4 points)
4	New Shoreham	55.1% (±17.2 points)
5	Exeter	51.4% (±9.6 points)
6	South Kingstown	44.4% (±3.5 points)
7	Westerly	38.0% (±3.7 points)
8	Narragansett	26.3% (±4.2 points)
9	North Kingstown	23.0% (±3.0 points)

The figures for Charlestown include the places inside it that have pages of their own: Charlestown (community).

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 Charlestown

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

Fuel oil or kerosene is the most common heating fuel in Charlestown, used by 59.2% of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

How many homes in Charlestown heat with oil?

59.2% (±6.4 points) of occupied homes in Charlestown use fuel oil or kerosene as their main heating fuel.

How many homes in Charlestown have electric heat?

14.8% (±4.0 points) of occupied homes in Charlestown heat mainly with electricity, which includes heat pumps.

Sources

Selected Housing Characteristics (DP04), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Charlestown town, Washington 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 Charlestown town, Washington County, Rhode Island (county subdivision:14500, in state:44 county:009).

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.