How are homes heated in Providence, RI?

Name: Heating fuel in Providence, 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 Providence, used by 70.3% (±1.9 points) of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

16.6% heat with electricity.

8.4% heat with fuel oil or kerosene.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Utility gas: 70.3% (±1.9 points)
Electricity: 16.6%
Fuel oil, kerosene: 8.4%

Heating fuel in Providence

Occupied housing units by house heating fuel, 2020–2024
Fuel used most	Providence	Providence County	Rhode Island	United States
Utility gas	70.3% (±1.9 points)	60.9%	53.0%	46.5%
Fuel oil, kerosene, etc.	8.4% (±1.0 points)	19.9%	26.6%	3.9%
Electricity	16.6% (±1.7 points)	13.4%	13.0%	41.3%
Bottled or tank gas (propane)	3.7% (±0.7 points)	4.0%	5.0%	4.9%
Wood	0.1% (±0.1 points)	0.5%	1.1%	1.4%
Solar energy	0.1% (±0.1 points)	0.1%	0.1%	0.3%
Coal or coke	0.0% (±0.1 points)	0.0%	0.1%	0.1%
Other fuel	0.2% (±0.1 points)	0.5%	0.6%	0.5%
No fuel used	0.6% (±0.6 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 Providence, the share of homes heating with fuel oil is lower than in Providence County (19.9%).

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

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

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

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

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

Homes heated by electricity in places near Providence

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Providence
Place	Distance	Homes heated by electricity	Compared with this place
Providence	—	16.6% (±1.7 points)	—
North Providence	3.3 mi	15.5% (±2.7 points)	Not measurably different
East Providence	3.4 mi	14.4% (±1.9 points)	Not measurably different
Pawtucket	4.3 mi	15.3% (±1.9 points)	Not measurably different
Central Falls	4.8 mi	19.7% (±4.5 points)	Not measurably different
Cranston	5.0 mi	9.5% (±1.5 points)	Lower
Johnston	5.2 mi	5.5% (±2.0 points)	Lower
Seekonk	5.3 mi	10.8% (±3.5 points)	Lower
North Seekonk	6.2 mi	6.6% (±5.0 points)	Lower

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Cranston, RI (9.5%), Johnston, RI (5.5%), Seekonk, MA (10.8%).

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
9	Lincoln	22.3% (±4.3 points)
10	Cranston	20.6% (±2.1 points)
11	East Providence	19.8% (±2.3 points)
12	Woonsocket	16.1% (±1.9 points)
13	Pawtucket	11.8% (±1.5 points)
14	North Providence	11.1% (±2.1 points)
15	Providence	8.4% (±1.0 points)
16	Central Falls	3.0% (±1.5 points)

Showing 8 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 Providence

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

Utility gas is the most common heating fuel in Providence, used by 70.3% of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

How many homes in Providence heat with oil?

8.4% (±1.0 points) of occupied homes in Providence use fuel oil or kerosene as their main heating fuel.

How many homes in Providence have electric heat?

16.6% (±1.7 points) of occupied homes in Providence heat mainly with electricity, which includes heat pumps.

Sources

Selected Housing Characteristics (DP04), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Providence city, 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 Providence city, Rhode Island (place:59000, in state:44).

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.