How are homes heated in Charleston, SC?

Name: Heating fuel in Charleston, SC, 2020–2024
Creator: US Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

Electricity is the most common heating fuel in Charleston, used by 73.0% (±1.5 points) of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

25.0% heat with utility gas.

0.0% heat with fuel oil or kerosene.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Utility gas: 25.0% (±1.4 points)
Electricity: 73.0%
Fuel oil, kerosene: 0.0%

Heating fuel in Charleston

Occupied housing units by house heating fuel, 2020–2024
Fuel used most	Charleston	Charleston County	South Carolina	United States
Utility gas	25.0% (±1.4 points)	20.2%	23.6%	46.5%
Fuel oil, kerosene, etc.	0.0% (±0.1 points)	0.1%	0.5%	3.9%
Electricity	73.0% (±1.5 points)	75.9%	70.8%	41.3%
Bottled or tank gas (propane)	0.9% (±0.3 points)	2.5%	3.5%	4.9%
Wood	0.0% (±0.1 points)	0.1%	0.5%	1.4%
Solar energy	0.3% (±0.2 points)	0.5%	0.2%	0.3%
Coal or coke	0.0% (±0.1 points)	0.0%	0.0%	0.1%
Other fuel	0.1% (±0.1 points)	0.1%	0.1%	0.5%
No fuel used	0.7% (±0.2 points)	0.5%	0.7%	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 Charleston, the share of homes heating with fuel oil is not measurably different from Charleston County (0.1%).

It is also lower than in South Carolina (0.5%).

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

In Charleston, the share of homes heating with electricity is lower than in Charleston County (75.9%).

It is also higher than in South Carolina (70.8%).

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

Homes heated by electricity in places near Charleston

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Charleston
Place	Distance	Homes heated by electricity	Compared with this place
Charleston	—	73.0% (±1.5 points)	—
Mount Pleasant	6.4 mi	77.3% (±1.9 points)	Higher
James Island	6.7 mi	61.3% (±5.8 points)	Lower
Hanahan	7.3 mi	64.9% (±4.5 points)	Lower
North Charleston	8.2 mi	77.0% (±1.5 points)	Higher
Sullivan's Island	9.1 mi	81.5% (±4.6 points)	Higher
Folly Beach	11 mi	66.9% (±12.2 points)	Not measurably different
Goose Creek	12 mi	80.6% (±2.8 points)	Higher
Isle of Palms	13 mi	88.1% (±3.9 points)	Higher

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: James Island, SC (61.3%), Hanahan, SC (64.9%).

Nearby places with a measurably higher figure: Mount Pleasant, SC (77.3%), North Charleston, SC (77.0%), Sullivan's Island, SC (81.5%).

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

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

Rank	Place	Homes heated by fuel oil
2	Meggett	1.5% (±1.6 points)
3	Kiawah Island	0.9% (±1.4 points)
4	Isle of Palms	0.3% (±0.5 points)
5 (tie)	Mount Pleasant	0.2% (±0.3 points)
5 (tie)	North Charleston	0.2% (±0.2 points)
7 (tie)	Awendaw	0.0% (±5.9 points)
7 (tie)	Charleston	0.0% (±0.1 points)
7 (tie)	Folly Beach	0.0% (±7.0 points)
7 (tie)	Hollywood	0.0% (±1.9 points)
7 (tie)	James Island	0.0% (±1.0 points)
7 (tie)	Lincolnville	0.0% (±8.8 points)
7 (tie)	McClellanville	0.0% (±14.5 points)
7 (tie)	Ravenel	0.0% (±4.4 points)

Showing 13 of 16 places in Charleston 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 Charleston

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

Electricity is the most common heating fuel in Charleston, used by 73.0% of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

How many homes in Charleston heat with oil?

0.0% (±0.1 points) of occupied homes in Charleston use fuel oil or kerosene as their main heating fuel.

How many homes in Charleston have electric heat?

73.0% (±1.5 points) of occupied homes in Charleston heat mainly with electricity, which includes heat pumps.

Sources

Selected Housing Characteristics (DP04), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Charleston city, South Carolina

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 Charleston city, South Carolina (place:13330, in state:45).

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.