How are homes heated in South Boston, VA?

Name: Heating fuel in South Boston, 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 South Boston, used by 81.2% (±4.6 points) of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

0.8% heat with utility gas.

11.4% heat with fuel oil or kerosene.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Utility gas: 0.8% (±0.8 points)
Electricity: 81.2%
Fuel oil, kerosene: 11.4%

Heating fuel in South Boston

Occupied housing units by house heating fuel, 2020–2024
Fuel used most	South Boston	Halifax County	Virginia	United States
Utility gas	0.8% (±0.8 points)	1.7%	32.3%	46.5%
Fuel oil, kerosene, etc.	11.4% (±3.8 points)	10.2%	3.2%	3.9%
Electricity	81.2% (±4.6 points)	67.9%	57.5%	41.3%
Bottled or tank gas (propane)	5.3% (±2.6 points)	13.3%	4.3%	4.9%
Wood	0.5% (±0.6 points)	5.4%	1.6%	1.4%
Solar energy	0.0% (±1.3 points)	0.0%	0.2%	0.3%
Coal or coke	0.0% (±1.3 points)	0.3%	0.0%	0.1%
Other fuel	0.5% (±1.1 points)	0.2%	0.3%	0.5%
No fuel used	0.4% (±0.7 points)	0.9%	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 South Boston, the share of homes heating with fuel oil is not measurably different from Halifax County (10.2%).

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

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

In South Boston, the share of homes heating with electricity is higher than in Halifax County (67.9%).

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 South Boston

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with South Boston
Place	Distance	Homes heated by electricity	Compared with this place
South Boston	—	81.2% (±4.6 points)	—
Riverdale	2.8 mi	66.9% (±16.9 points)	Not measurably different
Halifax	3.5 mi	61.4% (±10.9 points)	Lower
Mountain Road	5.0 mi	50.5% (±18.6 points)	Lower
Scottsburg	7.5 mi	59.3% (±31.9 points)	Not measurably different
Virgilina	14 mi	54.8% (±24.1 points)	Lower
Milton	20 mi	34.8% (±26.4 points)	Lower
Clarksville	20 mi	81.6% (±6.7 points)	Not measurably different
Roxboro	22 mi	50.5% (±8.3 points)	Lower

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Halifax, VA (61.4%), Mountain Road, VA (50.5%), Virgilina, VA (54.8%).

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

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

Rank	Place	Homes heated by fuel oil
1	Mountain Road	41.9% (±18.8 points)
2	Halifax	13.9% (±7.6 points)
3	South Boston	11.4% (±3.8 points)
4	Virgilina	4.8% (±7.3 points)
5	Scottsburg	3.7% (±7.6 points)
6	Riverdale	3.1% (±5.3 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 South Boston

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

Electricity is the most common heating fuel in South Boston, used by 81.2% of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

How many homes in South Boston heat with oil?

11.4% (±3.8 points) of occupied homes in South Boston use fuel oil or kerosene as their main heating fuel.

How many homes in South Boston have electric heat?

81.2% (±4.6 points) of occupied homes in South Boston heat mainly with electricity, which includes heat pumps.

Sources

Selected Housing Characteristics (DP04), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — South Boston 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 South Boston town, Virginia (place:73712, 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.