How are homes heated in North Charleston, SC?

Name: Heating fuel in North 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 North Charleston, used by 77.0% (±1.5 points) of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

20.6% heat with utility gas.

0.2% heat with fuel oil or kerosene.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Utility gas: 20.6% (±1.6 points)
Electricity: 77.0%
Fuel oil, kerosene: 0.2%

Heating fuel in North Charleston

Occupied housing units by house heating fuel, 2020–2024
Fuel used most	North Charleston	Charleston County	South Carolina	United States
Utility gas	20.6% (±1.6 points)	20.2%	23.6%	46.5%
Fuel oil, kerosene, etc.	0.2% (±0.2 points)	0.1%	0.5%	3.9%
Electricity	77.0% (±1.5 points)	75.9%	70.8%	41.3%
Bottled or tank gas (propane)	0.9% (±0.4 points)	2.5%	3.5%	4.9%
Wood	0.0% (±0.1 points)	0.1%	0.5%	1.4%
Solar energy	0.6% (±0.3 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% (±0.4 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 North 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 North Charleston, the share of homes heating with electricity is not measurably different from 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 North Charleston

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with North Charleston
Place	Distance	Homes heated by electricity	Compared with this place
North Charleston	—	77.0% (±1.5 points)	—
Hanahan	3.8 mi	64.9% (±4.5 points)	Lower
Goose Creek	6.2 mi	80.6% (±2.8 points)	Higher
Ladson	6.8 mi	90.6% (±6.0 points)	Higher
Lincolnville	8.1 mi	73.7% (±10.6 points)	Not measurably different
Charleston	8.2 mi	73.0% (±1.5 points)	Lower
Sangaree	8.7 mi	99.7% (±0.5 points)	Higher
Summerville	9.0 mi	79.2% (±2.2 points)	Not measurably different
Ravenel	14 mi	93.4% (±3.9 points)	Higher

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Hanahan, SC (64.9%), Charleston, SC (73.0%).

Nearby places with a measurably higher figure: Goose Creek, SC (80.6%), Ladson, SC (90.6%), Sangaree, SC (99.7%).

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
1	Rockville	1.7% (±3.9 points)
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)

Showing 12 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 North Charleston

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

Electricity is the most common heating fuel in North Charleston, used by 77.0% of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

How many homes in North Charleston heat with oil?

0.2% (±0.2 points) of occupied homes in North Charleston use fuel oil or kerosene as their main heating fuel.

How many homes in North Charleston have electric heat?

77.0% (±1.5 points) of occupied homes in North Charleston heat mainly with electricity, which includes heat pumps.

Sources

Selected Housing Characteristics (DP04), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — North 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 North Charleston city, South Carolina (place:50875, 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.