How are homes heated in Box Elder, SD?

Name: Heating fuel in Box Elder, SD, 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 Box Elder, used by 47.6% (±6.3 points) of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

45.3% heat with electricity.

0.7% heat with fuel oil or kerosene.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Utility gas: 47.6% (±6.3 points)
Electricity: 45.3%
Fuel oil, kerosene: 0.7%

Heating fuel in Box Elder

Occupied housing units by house heating fuel, 2020–2024
Fuel used most	Box Elder	Pennington County	South Dakota	United States
Utility gas	47.6% (±6.3 points)	58.8%	47.6%	46.5%
Fuel oil, kerosene, etc.	0.7% (±1.1 points)	0.5%	1.3%	3.9%
Electricity	45.3% (±6.3 points)	31.4%	32.4%	41.3%
Bottled or tank gas (propane)	6.1% (±3.4 points)	6.5%	15.5%	4.9%
Wood	0.0% (±0.5 points)	1.4%	1.1%	1.4%
Solar energy	0.0% (±0.5 points)	0.0%	0.0%	0.3%
Coal or coke	0.0% (±0.5 points)	0.1%	0.1%	0.1%
Other fuel	0.2% (±0.3 points)	0.4%	1.2%	0.5%
No fuel used	0.2% (±0.5 points)	0.9%	0.8%	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 Box Elder, the share of homes heating with fuel oil is not measurably different from Pennington County (0.5%).

It is not measurably different from South Dakota (1.3%).

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

In Box Elder, the share of homes heating with electricity is higher than in Pennington County (31.4%).

It is also higher than in South Dakota (32.4%).

It is not measurably different from the national figure (41.3%).

Homes heated by electricity in places near Box Elder

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Box Elder
Place	Distance	Homes heated by electricity	Compared with this place
Box Elder	—	45.3% (±6.3 points)	—
Ashland Heights	2.6 mi	0.0% (±7.5 points)	Lower
Rapid Valley	3.6 mi	23.6% (±6.5 points)	Lower
Green Valley	5.2 mi	5.7% (±8.1 points)	Lower
Rapid City	7.3 mi	30.7% (±1.7 points)	Lower
New Underwood	12 mi	42.4% (±18.4 points)	Not measurably different
Blackhawk	13 mi	40.0% (±11.0 points)	Not measurably different
Colonial Pine Hills	13 mi	56.4% (±18.1 points)	Not measurably different
Summerset	14 mi	23.9% (±7.2 points)	Lower

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Ashland Heights, SD (0.0%), Rapid Valley, SD (23.6%), Green Valley, SD (5.7%).

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

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

Rank	Place	Homes heated by fuel oil
1	Huron Township	27.3% (±32.5 points)
2	Rapid Valley	2.3% (±2.8 points)
3	Box Elder	0.7% (±1.1 points)
4	Rapid City	0.3% (±0.3 points)
5 (tie)	Ashland Heights	0.0% (±7.5 points)
5 (tie)	Colonial Pine Hills	0.0% (±2.3 points)
5 (tie)	Green Valley	0.0% (±4.2 points)
5 (tie)	Hill City	0.0% (±8.5 points)
5 (tie)	Keystone	0.0% (±20.7 points)

Showing 9 of 27 places in Pennington 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 Box Elder

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

Utility gas is the most common heating fuel in Box Elder, used by 47.6% of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

How many homes in Box Elder heat with oil?

0.7% (±1.1 points) of occupied homes in Box Elder use fuel oil or kerosene as their main heating fuel.

How many homes in Box Elder have electric heat?

45.3% (±6.3 points) of occupied homes in Box Elder heat mainly with electricity, which includes heat pumps.

Sources

Selected Housing Characteristics (DP04), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Box Elder city, South Dakota

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 Box Elder city, South Dakota (place:06620, in state:46).

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.