How are homes heated in Foster, RI?

Name: Heating fuel in Foster, 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 Foster, used by 61.4% (±7.3 points) of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

3.3% heat with utility gas.

5.3% heat with electricity.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Utility gas: 3.3% (±3.1 points)
Electricity: 5.3%
Fuel oil, kerosene: 61.4%

Heating fuel in Foster

Occupied housing units by house heating fuel, 2020–2024
Fuel used most	Foster	Providence County	Rhode Island	United States
Utility gas	3.3% (±3.1 points)	60.9%	53.0%	46.5%
Fuel oil, kerosene, etc.	61.4% (±7.3 points)	19.9%	26.6%	3.9%
Electricity	5.3% (±2.8 points)	13.4%	13.0%	41.3%
Bottled or tank gas (propane)	10.8% (±5.8 points)	4.0%	5.0%	4.9%
Wood	15.3% (±6.0 points)	0.5%	1.1%	1.4%
Solar energy	0.0% (±3.3 points)	0.1%	0.1%	0.3%
Coal or coke	0.0% (±3.3 points)	0.0%	0.1%	0.1%
Other fuel	3.4% (±3.7 points)	0.5%	0.6%	0.5%
No fuel used	0.5% (±0.8 points)	0.6%	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 Foster, the share of homes heating with fuel oil is higher than in Providence County (19.9%).

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

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

In Foster, the share of homes heating with electricity is lower than in Providence County (13.4%).

It is also lower than in Rhode Island (13.0%).

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

Homes heated by electricity in places near Foster

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Foster
Place	Distance	Homes heated by electricity	Compared with this place
Foster	—	5.3% (±2.8 points)	—
Scituate	5.5 mi	2.5% (±1.4 points)	Not measurably different
Killingly	6.5 mi	13.4% (±3.3 points)	Higher
Coventry	7.3 mi	8.5% (±1.7 points)	Not measurably different
Sterling	7.4 mi	3.4% (±2.5 points)	Not measurably different
Glocester	7.7 mi	6.4% (±3.5 points)	Not measurably different
Moosup	8.8 mi	14.8% (±7.4 points)	Higher
East Brooklyn	8.8 mi	5.3% (±2.9 points)	Not measurably different
Chepachet	9.2 mi	0.0% (±5.6 points)	Not measurably different

Nearby places with a measurably higher figure: Killingly, CT (13.4%), Moosup, CT (14.8%).

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

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

Rank	Place	Homes heated by fuel oil
1	Scituate	78.4% (±6.1 points)
2	Burrillville	67.9% (±5.5 points)
3	Glocester	67.4% (±7.3 points)
4	Foster	61.4% (±7.3 points)
5	North Smithfield	52.8% (±5.1 points)
6	Smithfield	37.5% (±4.1 points)
7	Johnston	32.0% (±3.8 points)
8	Cumberland	29.3% (±3.2 points)
9	Lincoln	22.3% (±4.3 points)
10	Cranston	20.6% (±2.1 points)

Showing 10 of 16 places in Providence 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 Foster

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

Fuel oil or kerosene is the most common heating fuel in Foster, used by 61.4% of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

How many homes in Foster heat with oil?

61.4% (±7.3 points) of occupied homes in Foster use fuel oil or kerosene as their main heating fuel.

How many homes in Foster have electric heat?

5.3% (±2.8 points) of occupied homes in Foster heat mainly with electricity, which includes heat pumps.

Sources

Selected Housing Characteristics (DP04), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Foster town, Providence 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 Foster town, Providence County, Rhode Island (county subdivision:27460, in state:44 county:007).

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.