How are homes heated in Rapid City, SD?

Name: Heating fuel in Rapid City, 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 Rapid City, used by 65.0% (±2.0 points) of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

30.7% heat with electricity.

0.3% heat with fuel oil or kerosene.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Utility gas: 65.0% (±2.0 points)
Electricity: 30.7%
Fuel oil, kerosene: 0.3%

Heating fuel in Rapid City

Occupied housing units by house heating fuel, 2020–2024
Fuel used most	Rapid City	Pennington County	South Dakota	United States
Utility gas	65.0% (±2.0 points)	58.8%	47.6%	46.5%
Fuel oil, kerosene, etc.	0.3% (±0.3 points)	0.5%	1.3%	3.9%
Electricity	30.7% (±1.7 points)	31.4%	32.4%	41.3%
Bottled or tank gas (propane)	1.8% (±0.7 points)	6.5%	15.5%	4.9%
Wood	0.3% (±0.2 points)	1.4%	1.1%	1.4%
Solar energy	0.0% (±0.1 points)	0.0%	0.0%	0.3%
Coal or coke	0.2% (±0.2 points)	0.1%	0.1%	0.1%
Other fuel	0.5% (±0.2 points)	0.4%	1.2%	0.5%
No fuel used	1.2% (±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 Rapid City, the share of homes heating with fuel oil is not measurably different from Pennington County (0.5%).

It is also lower than in South Dakota (1.3%).

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

In Rapid City, the share of homes heating with electricity is not measurably different from Pennington County (31.4%).

It is not measurably different from South Dakota (32.4%).

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

Homes heated by electricity in places near Rapid City

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Rapid City
Place	Distance	Homes heated by electricity	Compared with this place
Rapid City	—	30.7% (±1.7 points)	—
Rapid Valley	4.8 mi	23.6% (±6.5 points)	Lower
Green Valley	5.7 mi	5.7% (±8.1 points)	Lower
Colonial Pine Hills	6.2 mi	56.4% (±18.1 points)	Higher
Ashland Heights	6.4 mi	0.0% (±7.5 points)	Lower
Box Elder	7.3 mi	45.3% (±6.3 points)	Higher
Blackhawk	8.0 mi	40.0% (±11.0 points)	Not measurably different
Summerset	10 mi	23.9% (±7.2 points)	Not measurably different
Piedmont	13 mi	22.5% (±10.0 points)	Not measurably different

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

Nearby places with a measurably higher figure: Colonial Pine Hills, SD (56.4%), Box Elder, SD (45.3%).

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)
5 (tie)	New Underwood	0.0% (±15.2 points)

Showing 10 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 Rapid City

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

Utility gas is the most common heating fuel in Rapid City, used by 65.0% of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

How many homes in Rapid City heat with oil?

0.3% (±0.3 points) of occupied homes in Rapid City use fuel oil or kerosene as their main heating fuel.

How many homes in Rapid City have electric heat?

30.7% (±1.7 points) of occupied homes in Rapid City heat mainly with electricity, which includes heat pumps.

Sources

Selected Housing Characteristics (DP04), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Rapid City 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 Rapid City city, South Dakota (place:52980, 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.