How are homes heated in Chilhowie, VA?

Name: Heating fuel in Chilhowie, 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 Chilhowie, used by 82.6% (±5.4 points) of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

7.8% heat with utility gas.

5.9% heat with fuel oil or kerosene.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Utility gas: 7.8% (±3.9 points)
Electricity: 82.6%
Fuel oil, kerosene: 5.9%

Heating fuel in Chilhowie

Occupied housing units by house heating fuel, 2020–2024
Fuel used most	Chilhowie	Smyth County	Virginia	United States
Utility gas	7.8% (±3.9 points)	7.4%	32.3%	46.5%
Fuel oil, kerosene, etc.	5.9% (±2.8 points)	11.1%	3.2%	3.9%
Electricity	82.6% (±5.4 points)	70.3%	57.5%	41.3%
Bottled or tank gas (propane)	1.3% (±1.5 points)	4.2%	4.3%	4.9%
Wood	0.0% (±4.4 points)	6.1%	1.6%	1.4%
Solar energy	0.0% (±4.4 points)	0.0%	0.2%	0.3%
Coal or coke	0.0% (±4.4 points)	0.0%	0.0%	0.1%
Other fuel	0.9% (±1.6 points)	0.3%	0.3%	0.5%
No fuel used	1.5% (±1.7 points)	0.5%	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 Chilhowie, the share of homes heating with fuel oil is lower than in Smyth County (11.1%).

It is not measurably different from Virginia (3.2%).

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

In Chilhowie, the share of homes heating with electricity is higher than in Smyth County (70.3%).

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 Chilhowie

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Chilhowie
Place	Distance	Homes heated by electricity	Compared with this place
Chilhowie	—	82.6% (±5.4 points)	—
Adwolf	4.9 mi	68.1% (±20.9 points)	Not measurably different
Glade Spring	5.0 mi	77.4% (±8.4 points)	Not measurably different
Saltville	6.9 mi	83.0% (±6.0 points)	Not measurably different
Emory	8.1 mi	87.3% (±8.6 points)	Not measurably different
Marion	9.6 mi	66.8% (±5.9 points)	Lower
Damascus	13 mi	78.1% (±9.5 points)	Not measurably different
Troutdale	15 mi	47.5% (±20.7 points)	Lower
Abingdon	17 mi	75.8% (±4.7 points)	Not measurably different

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Marion, VA (66.8%), Troutdale, VA (47.5%).

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

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

Rank	Place	Homes heated by fuel oil
1	Adwolf	27.0% (±21.5 points)
2	Saltville	8.3% (±3.3 points)
3	Chilhowie	5.9% (±2.8 points)
4	Marion	3.3% (±1.7 points)

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 Chilhowie

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

Electricity is the most common heating fuel in Chilhowie, used by 82.6% of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

How many homes in Chilhowie heat with oil?

5.9% (±2.8 points) of occupied homes in Chilhowie use fuel oil or kerosene as their main heating fuel.

How many homes in Chilhowie have electric heat?

82.6% (±5.4 points) of occupied homes in Chilhowie heat mainly with electricity, which includes heat pumps.

Sources

Selected Housing Characteristics (DP04), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Chilhowie town, 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 Chilhowie town, Virginia (place:16480, 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.