How are homes heated in Bristol, VA?

Name: Heating fuel in Bristol, VA, 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 Bristol, used by 72.6% (±4.2 points) of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

22.6% heat with utility gas.

0.9% heat with fuel oil or kerosene.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Utility gas: 22.6% (±3.9 points)
Electricity: 72.6%
Fuel oil, kerosene: 0.9%

Heating fuel in Bristol

Occupied housing units by house heating fuel, 2020–2024
Fuel used most	Bristol	Bristol city	Virginia	United States
Utility gas	22.6% (±3.9 points)	22.6%	32.3%	46.5%
Fuel oil, kerosene, etc.	0.9% (±0.6 points)	0.9%	3.2%	3.9%
Electricity	72.6% (±4.2 points)	72.6%	57.5%	41.3%
Bottled or tank gas (propane)	1.8% (±1.4 points)	1.8%	4.3%	4.9%
Wood	0.5% (±0.5 points)	0.5%	1.6%	1.4%
Solar energy	0.0% (±0.6 points)	0.0%	0.2%	0.3%
Coal or coke	0.0% (±0.6 points)	0.0%	0.0%	0.1%
Other fuel	0.6% (±0.5 points)	0.6%	0.3%	0.5%
No fuel used	1.0% (±0.8 points)	1.0%	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 Bristol, the share of homes heating with fuel oil is not measurably different from Bristol city (0.9%).

It is also lower than in Virginia (3.2%).

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

In Bristol, the share of homes heating with electricity is not measurably different from Bristol city (72.6%).

It is also higher than in Virginia (57.5%).

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

Homes heated by electricity in places near Bristol

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Bristol
Place	Distance	Homes heated by electricity	Compared with this place
Bristol	—	72.6% (±4.2 points)	—
Bristol	5.2 mi	77.5% (±2.8 points)	Not measurably different
Walnut Hill	6.9 mi	90.1% (±4.3 points)	Higher
Blountville	11 mi	87.8% (±8.0 points)	Higher
Abingdon	12 mi	75.8% (±4.7 points)	Not measurably different
Bluff City	13 mi	92.2% (±4.7 points)	Higher
Hunter	15 mi	97.3% (±3.2 points)	Higher
Nickelsville	17 mi	95.2% (±4.2 points)	Higher
Biltmore	18 mi	83.9% (±8.6 points)	Higher

Nearby places with a measurably higher figure: Walnut Hill, TN (90.1%), Blountville, TN (87.8%), Bluff City, TN (92.2%).

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

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 Bristol

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

Electricity is the most common heating fuel in Bristol, used by 72.6% of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

How many homes in Bristol heat with oil?

0.9% (±0.6 points) of occupied homes in Bristol use fuel oil or kerosene as their main heating fuel.

How many homes in Bristol have electric heat?

72.6% (±4.2 points) of occupied homes in Bristol heat mainly with electricity, which includes heat pumps.

Sources

Selected Housing Characteristics (DP04), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Bristol city, Virginia

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 Bristol city, Virginia (place:09816, in state:51).

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.