How are homes heated in Salem, SD?

Name: Heating fuel in Salem, 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 Salem, used by 65.8% (±7.9 points) of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

30.5% heat with electricity.

0.0% heat with fuel oil or kerosene.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Utility gas: 65.8% (±7.9 points)
Electricity: 30.5%
Fuel oil, kerosene: 0.0%

Heating fuel in Salem

Occupied housing units by house heating fuel, 2020–2024
Fuel used most	Salem	McCook County	South Dakota	United States
Utility gas	65.8% (±7.9 points)	32.0%	47.6%	46.5%
Fuel oil, kerosene, etc.	0.0% (±4.7 points)	2.4%	1.3%	3.9%
Electricity	30.5% (±7.9 points)	21.3%	32.4%	41.3%
Bottled or tank gas (propane)	3.7% (±2.0 points)	37.1%	15.5%	4.9%
Wood	0.0% (±4.7 points)	1.8%	1.1%	1.4%
Solar energy	0.0% (±4.7 points)	0.0%	0.0%	0.3%
Coal or coke	0.0% (±4.7 points)	0.0%	0.1%	0.1%
Other fuel	0.0% (±4.7 points)	4.2%	1.2%	0.5%
No fuel used	0.0% (±4.7 points)	1.1%	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 Salem, the share of homes heating with fuel oil is not measurably different from McCook County (2.4%).

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

It is not measurably different from the national figure (3.9%).

In Salem, the share of homes heating with electricity is higher than in McCook County (21.3%).

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 Salem

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Salem
Place	Distance	Homes heated by electricity	Compared with this place
Salem	—	30.5% (±7.9 points)	—
Salem Township (McCook County)	2.3 mi	9.7% (±14.2 points)	Lower
Richland Township (McCook County)	3.6 mi	10.1% (±10.4 points)	Lower
Sun Prairie Township	6.0 mi	10.8% (±13.1 points)	Lower
Emery Township	6.1 mi	58.6% (±31.4 points)	Not measurably different
Brookfield Township	6.9 mi	13.7% (±12.1 points)	Lower
Canistota Township	7.5 mi	28.2% (±23.0 points)	Not measurably different
Benton Township (McCook County)	8.0 mi	39.1% (±44.1 points)	Not measurably different
Pearl Township (McCook County)	9.3 mi	0.0% (±78.4 points)	Not measurably different

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Salem Township (McCook County), SD (9.7%), Richland Township (McCook County), SD (10.1%), Sun Prairie Township, SD (10.8%).

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

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

Rank	Place	Homes heated by fuel oil
3	Grant Township (McCook County)	10.7% (±12.5 points)
4	Bridgewater	10.1% (±7.3 points)
5	Spring Valley Township (McCook County)	9.5% (±8.8 points)
6	Greenland Township	1.0% (±3.3 points)
7 (tie)	Canistota	0.0% (±8.8 points)
7 (tie)	Montrose	0.0% (±12.6 points)
7 (tie)	Salem	0.0% (±4.7 points)
7 (tie)	Spencer	0.0% (±33.8 points)
7 (tie)	Benton Township (McCook County)	0.0% (±54.2 points)
7 (tie)	Bridgewater Township	0.0% (±30.2 points)
7 (tie)	Brookfield Township	0.0% (±21.5 points)
7 (tie)	Canistota Township	0.0% (±41.6 points)
7 (tie)	Jefferson Township (McCook County)	0.0% (±53.1 points)

Showing 13 of 21 places in McCook 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 Salem

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

Utility gas is the most common heating fuel in Salem, used by 65.8% of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

How many homes in Salem heat with oil?

0.0% (±4.7 points) of occupied homes in Salem use fuel oil or kerosene as their main heating fuel.

How many homes in Salem have electric heat?

30.5% (±7.9 points) of occupied homes in Salem heat mainly with electricity, which includes heat pumps.

Sources

Selected Housing Characteristics (DP04), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Salem 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 Salem city, South Dakota (place:57340, 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.