How are homes heated in Merrimac, VA?

Name: Heating fuel in Merrimac, 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 Merrimac, used by 84.2% (±5.5 points) of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

10.7% heat with utility gas.

1.6% heat with fuel oil or kerosene.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Utility gas: 10.7% (±4.1 points)
Electricity: 84.2%
Fuel oil, kerosene: 1.6%

Heating fuel in Merrimac

Occupied housing units by house heating fuel, 2020–2024
Fuel used most	Merrimac	Montgomery County	Virginia	United States
Utility gas	10.7% (±4.1 points)	16.1%	32.3%	46.5%
Fuel oil, kerosene, etc.	1.6% (±2.7 points)	2.1%	3.2%	3.9%
Electricity	84.2% (±5.5 points)	75.7%	57.5%	41.3%
Bottled or tank gas (propane)	1.1% (±1.4 points)	2.5%	4.3%	4.9%
Wood	0.0% (±2.6 points)	2.6%	1.6%	1.4%
Solar energy	0.0% (±2.6 points)	0.2%	0.2%	0.3%
Coal or coke	0.0% (±2.6 points)	0.0%	0.0%	0.1%
Other fuel	0.0% (±2.6 points)	0.2%	0.3%	0.5%
No fuel used	2.4% (±2.5 points)	0.7%	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 Merrimac, the share of homes heating with fuel oil is not measurably different from Montgomery County (2.1%).

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

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

In Merrimac, the share of homes heating with electricity is higher than in Montgomery County (75.7%).

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 Merrimac

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Merrimac
Place	Distance	Homes heated by electricity	Compared with this place
Merrimac	—	84.2% (±5.5 points)	—
Blacksburg	2.5 mi	69.5% (±3.4 points)	Lower
Christiansburg	3.9 mi	77.3% (±3.8 points)	Lower
Plum Creek	6.5 mi	95.7% (±5.7 points)	Higher
Fairlawn	7.5 mi	48.0% (±11.3 points)	Lower
Riner	8.9 mi	81.4% (±13.2 points)	Not measurably different
Radford	9.1 mi	71.4% (±3.8 points)	Lower
Shawsville	9.4 mi	92.0% (±11.2 points)	Not measurably different
Pembroke	15 mi	88.4% (±5.6 points)	Not measurably different

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Blacksburg, VA (69.5%), Christiansburg, VA (77.3%), Fairlawn, VA (48.0%).

Nearby places with a measurably higher figure: Plum Creek, VA (95.7%).

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

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

Rank	Place	Homes heated by fuel oil
1	Plum Creek	4.3% (±5.7 points)
2	Christiansburg	3.3% (±1.4 points)
3	Riner	2.2% (±4.1 points)
4	Merrimac	1.6% (±2.7 points)
5	Blacksburg	1.1% (±0.7 points)
6	Shawsville	0.0% (±7.4 points)

Merrimac is a census-designated place: an unincorporated community the Census Bureau draws for statistics, with no municipal government of its own.

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 Merrimac

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

Electricity is the most common heating fuel in Merrimac, used by 84.2% of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

How many homes in Merrimac heat with oil?

1.6% (±2.7 points) of occupied homes in Merrimac use fuel oil or kerosene as their main heating fuel.

How many homes in Merrimac have electric heat?

84.2% (±5.5 points) of occupied homes in Merrimac heat mainly with electricity, which includes heat pumps.

Sources

Selected Housing Characteristics (DP04), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Merrimac CDP, 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 Merrimac CDP, Virginia (place:51208, 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.