How are homes heated in Columbia, SC?

Name: Heating fuel in Columbia, 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 Columbia, used by 72.1% (±1.7 points) of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

25.8% heat with utility gas.

0.1% heat with fuel oil or kerosene.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Utility gas: 25.8% (±1.6 points)
Electricity: 72.1%
Fuel oil, kerosene: 0.1%

Heating fuel in Columbia

Occupied housing units by house heating fuel, 2020–2024
Fuel used most	Columbia	Richland County	South Carolina	United States
Utility gas	25.8% (±1.6 points)	23.3%	23.6%	46.5%
Fuel oil, kerosene, etc.	0.1% (±0.1 points)	0.1%	0.5%	3.9%
Electricity	72.1% (±1.7 points)	73.4%	70.8%	41.3%
Bottled or tank gas (propane)	0.8% (±0.3 points)	1.9%	3.5%	4.9%
Wood	0.0% (±0.1 points)	0.2%	0.5%	1.4%
Solar energy	0.1% (±0.1 points)	0.2%	0.2%	0.3%
Coal or coke	0.0% (±0.1 points)	0.0%	0.0%	0.1%
Other fuel	0.2% (±0.2 points)	0.1%	0.1%	0.5%
No fuel used	0.8% (±0.3 points)	0.8%	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 Columbia, the share of homes heating with fuel oil is not measurably different from Richland County (0.1%).

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

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

In Columbia, the share of homes heating with electricity is not measurably different from Richland County (73.4%).

It is not measurably different from South Carolina (70.8%).

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

Homes heated by electricity in places near Columbia

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Columbia
Place	Distance	Homes heated by electricity	Compared with this place
Columbia	—	72.1% (±1.7 points)	—
Woodfield	1.9 mi	80.8% (±6.2 points)	Higher
Arcadia Lakes	3.4 mi	48.4% (±10.2 points)	Lower
Dentsville	3.7 mi	78.8% (±6.8 points)	Not measurably different
Forest Acres	3.9 mi	56.3% (±5.4 points)	Lower
Capitol View	5.2 mi	70.0% (±10.4 points)	Not measurably different
Arthurtown	7.5 mi	84.5% (±7.1 points)	Higher
Cayce	9.9 mi	53.2% (±4.7 points)	Lower
Hopkins	10 mi	80.2% (±11.6 points)	Not measurably different

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Arcadia Lakes, SC (48.4%), Forest Acres, SC (56.3%), Cayce, SC (53.2%).

Nearby places with a measurably higher figure: Woodfield, SC (80.8%), Arthurtown, SC (84.5%).

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

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

Rank	Place	Homes heated by fuel oil
1	Gadsden	3.0% (±3.9 points)
2	Columbia	0.1% (±0.1 points)
3 (tie)	Arcadia Lakes	0.0% (±10.2 points)
3 (tie)	Arthurtown	0.0% (±3.7 points)
3 (tie)	Blythewood	0.0% (±2.0 points)
3 (tie)	Capitol View	0.0% (±2.3 points)
3 (tie)	Dentsville	0.0% (±0.7 points)
3 (tie)	Eastover	0.0% (±14.6 points)

Showing 8 of 14 places in Richland 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 Columbia

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

Electricity is the most common heating fuel in Columbia, used by 72.1% of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

How many homes in Columbia heat with oil?

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

How many homes in Columbia have electric heat?

72.1% (±1.7 points) of occupied homes in Columbia heat mainly with electricity, which includes heat pumps.

Sources

Selected Housing Characteristics (DP04), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Columbia 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 Columbia city, South Carolina (place:16000, 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.