How are homes heated in Elk Plain, WA?

Name: Heating fuel in Elk Plain, WA, 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 Elk Plain, used by 55.4% (±4.8 points) of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

29.8% heat with utility gas.

0.5% heat with fuel oil or kerosene.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Utility gas: 29.8% (±4.6 points)
Electricity: 55.4%
Fuel oil, kerosene: 0.5%

Heating fuel in Elk Plain

Occupied housing units by house heating fuel, 2020–2024
Fuel used most	Elk Plain	Pierce County	Washington	United States
Utility gas	29.8% (±4.6 points)	33.8%	33.0%	46.5%
Fuel oil, kerosene, etc.	0.5% (±0.6 points)	0.9%	1.3%	3.9%
Electricity	55.4% (±4.8 points)	59.9%	58.6%	41.3%
Bottled or tank gas (propane)	4.7% (±2.5 points)	2.4%	3.0%	4.9%
Wood	5.7% (±2.7 points)	1.9%	2.8%	1.4%
Solar energy	0.2% (±0.3 points)	0.2%	0.2%	0.3%
Coal or coke	0.0% (±0.8 points)	0.0%	0.0%	0.1%
Other fuel	2.5% (±3.0 points)	0.3%	0.4%	0.5%
No fuel used	1.2% (±1.2 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 Elk Plain, the share of homes heating with fuel oil is not measurably different from Pierce County (0.9%).

It is also lower than in Washington (1.3%).

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

In Elk Plain, the share of homes heating with electricity is not measurably different from Pierce County (59.9%).

It is not measurably different from Washington (58.6%).

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

Homes heated by electricity in places near Elk Plain

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Elk Plain
Place	Distance	Homes heated by electricity	Compared with this place
Elk Plain	—	55.4% (±4.8 points)	—
South Creek	3.1 mi	91.5% (±8.5 points)	Higher
Frederickson	3.5 mi	60.6% (±4.5 points)	Not measurably different
Graham	4.2 mi	55.9% (±3.9 points)	Not measurably different
Spanaway	4.7 mi	65.2% (±3.3 points)	Higher
Summit View	6.6 mi	55.0% (±7.9 points)	Not measurably different
South Hill	6.6 mi	52.7% (±2.3 points)	Not measurably different
Clover Creek	7.0 mi	82.8% (±5.4 points)	Higher
Parkland	7.7 mi	71.0% (±3.5 points)	Higher

Nearby places with a measurably higher figure: South Creek, WA (91.5%), Spanaway, WA (65.2%), Clover Creek, WA (82.8%).

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

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

Rank	Place	Homes heated by fuel oil
20 (tie)	Graham	0.7% (±0.6 points)
20 (tie)	Lakewood	0.7% (±0.4 points)
20 (tie)	Parkland	0.7% (±0.5 points)
20 (tie)	South Hill	0.7% (±0.7 points)
25 (tie)	Key Center	0.6% (±1.0 points)
25 (tie)	Spanaway	0.6% (±0.5 points)
27 (tie)	Elk Plain	0.5% (±0.6 points)
27 (tie)	Fife	0.5% (±0.4 points)
27 (tie)	Steilacoom	0.5% (±0.8 points)
27 (tie)	Summit	0.5% (±0.6 points)
27 (tie)	Sumner	0.5% (±0.7 points)
32 (tie)	Eatonville	0.4% (±0.7 points)
32 (tie)	Fort Lewis	0.4% (±0.6 points)

Showing 13 of 59 places in Pierce County, ranked from highest to lowest.

Elk Plain 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 Elk Plain

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

Electricity is the most common heating fuel in Elk Plain, used by 55.4% of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

How many homes in Elk Plain heat with oil?

0.5% (±0.6 points) of occupied homes in Elk Plain use fuel oil or kerosene as their main heating fuel.

How many homes in Elk Plain have electric heat?

55.4% (±4.8 points) of occupied homes in Elk Plain heat mainly with electricity, which includes heat pumps.

Sources

Selected Housing Characteristics (DP04), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Elk Plain CDP, Washington

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 Elk Plain CDP, Washington (place:21205, in state:53).

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.