How are homes heated in Rural Retreat, VA?

Name: Heating fuel in Rural Retreat, 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 Rural Retreat, used by 66.8% (±8.3 points) of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

8.6% heat with utility gas.

15.2% heat with fuel oil or kerosene.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Utility gas: 8.6% (±4.6 points)
Electricity: 66.8%
Fuel oil, kerosene: 15.2%

Heating fuel in Rural Retreat

Occupied housing units by house heating fuel, 2020–2024
Fuel used most	Rural Retreat	Wythe County	Virginia	United States
Utility gas	8.6% (±4.6 points)	8.4%	32.3%	46.5%
Fuel oil, kerosene, etc.	15.2% (±8.9 points)	10.1%	3.2%	3.9%
Electricity	66.8% (±8.3 points)	66.4%	57.5%	41.3%
Bottled or tank gas (propane)	5.1% (±3.6 points)	4.9%	4.3%	4.9%
Wood	3.3% (±2.3 points)	7.6%	1.6%	1.4%
Solar energy	0.0% (±5.8 points)	0.2%	0.2%	0.3%
Coal or coke	0.6% (±1.0 points)	0.9%	0.0%	0.1%
Other fuel	0.0% (±5.8 points)	0.2%	0.3%	0.5%
No fuel used	0.5% (±0.8 points)	1.3%	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 Rural Retreat, the share of homes heating with fuel oil is not measurably different from Wythe County (10.1%).

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

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

In Rural Retreat, the share of homes heating with electricity is not measurably different from Wythe County (66.4%).

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 Rural Retreat

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Rural Retreat
Place	Distance	Homes heated by electricity	Compared with this place
Rural Retreat	—	66.8% (±8.3 points)	—
Wytheville	11 mi	67.7% (±5.5 points)	Not measurably different
Marion	14 mi	66.8% (±5.9 points)	Not measurably different
Troutdale	17 mi	47.5% (±20.7 points)	Not measurably different
Adwolf	19 mi	68.1% (±20.9 points)	Not measurably different
Tazewell	20 mi	87.3% (±5.0 points)	Higher
Independence	20 mi	53.6% (±11.2 points)	Not measurably different
Fries	21 mi	71.2% (±16.3 points)	Not measurably different
Bluefield	23 mi	57.7% (±7.3 points)	Not measurably different

Nearby places with a measurably higher figure: Tazewell, VA (87.3%).

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 Rural Retreat

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

Electricity is the most common heating fuel in Rural Retreat, used by 66.8% of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

How many homes in Rural Retreat heat with oil?

15.2% (±8.9 points) of occupied homes in Rural Retreat use fuel oil or kerosene as their main heating fuel.

How many homes in Rural Retreat have electric heat?

66.8% (±8.3 points) of occupied homes in Rural Retreat heat mainly with electricity, which includes heat pumps.

Sources

Selected Housing Characteristics (DP04), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Rural Retreat 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 Rural Retreat town, Virginia (place:69456, 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.