How are homes heated in Merkel, TX?

Name: Heating fuel in Merkel, TX, 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 Merkel, used by 47.9% (±9.3 points) of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

46.5% heat with electricity.

2.2% heat with fuel oil or kerosene.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Utility gas: 47.9% (±9.3 points)
Electricity: 46.5%
Fuel oil, kerosene: 2.2%

Heating fuel in Merkel

Occupied housing units by house heating fuel, 2020–2024
Fuel used most	Merkel	Taylor County	Texas	United States
Utility gas	47.9% (±9.3 points)	40.8%	34.5%	46.5%
Fuel oil, kerosene, etc.	2.2% (±3.0 points)	0.1%	0.1%	3.9%
Electricity	46.5% (±9.3 points)	55.5%	61.2%	41.3%
Bottled or tank gas (propane)	2.7% (±2.3 points)	2.8%	2.9%	4.9%
Wood	0.0% (±5.3 points)	0.3%	0.2%	1.4%
Solar energy	0.0% (±5.3 points)	0.2%	0.3%	0.3%
Coal or coke	0.0% (±5.3 points)	0.0%	0.0%	0.1%
Other fuel	0.0% (±5.3 points)	0.0%	0.2%	0.5%
No fuel used	0.7% (±1.0 points)	0.3%	0.6%	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 Merkel, the share of homes heating with fuel oil is not measurably different from Taylor County (0.1%).

It is not measurably different from Texas (0.1%).

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

In Merkel, the share of homes heating with electricity is not measurably different from Taylor County (55.5%).

It is also lower than in Texas (61.2%).

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

Homes heated by electricity in places near Merkel

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Merkel
Place	Distance	Homes heated by electricity	Compared with this place
Merkel	—	46.5% (±9.3 points)	—
Trent	6.7 mi	59.2% (±20.3 points)	Not measurably different
Tye	8.5 mi	76.0% (±8.3 points)	Higher
Hawley	15 mi	58.5% (±16.0 points)	Not measurably different
Impact	16 mi	20.0% (±49.6 points)	Not measurably different
Abilene	16 mi	52.1% (±2.0 points)	Not measurably different
Buffalo Gap	17 mi	67.8% (±13.4 points)	Higher
Anson	21 mi	50.8% (±11.2 points)	Not measurably different
Potosi	21 mi	96.9% (±3.0 points)	Higher

Nearby places with a measurably higher figure: Tye, TX (76.0%), Buffalo Gap, TX (67.8%), Potosi, TX (96.9%).

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

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

Rank	Place	Homes heated by fuel oil
1	Merkel	2.2% (±3.0 points)
2	Tye	1.0% (±1.5 points)
3 (tie)	Abilene	0.0% (±0.1 points)
3 (tie)	Buffalo Gap	0.0% (±22.0 points)
3 (tie)	Impact	0.0% (±100.0 points)
3 (tie)	Lawn	0.0% (±35.2 points)
3 (tie)	Potosi	0.0% (±3.6 points)

Showing 7 of 9 places in Taylor 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 Merkel

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

Utility gas is the most common heating fuel in Merkel, used by 47.9% of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

How many homes in Merkel heat with oil?

2.2% (±3.0 points) of occupied homes in Merkel use fuel oil or kerosene as their main heating fuel.

How many homes in Merkel have electric heat?

46.5% (±9.3 points) of occupied homes in Merkel heat mainly with electricity, which includes heat pumps.

Sources

Selected Housing Characteristics (DP04), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Merkel town, Texas

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 Merkel town, Texas (place:47796, in state:48).

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.