How are homes heated in Olympia, WA?

Name: Heating fuel in Olympia, 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 Olympia, used by 60.8% (±2.8 points) of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

36.9% heat with utility gas.

0.4% heat with fuel oil or kerosene.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Utility gas: 36.9% (±2.8 points)
Electricity: 60.8%
Fuel oil, kerosene: 0.4%

Heating fuel in Olympia

Occupied housing units by house heating fuel, 2020–2024
Fuel used most	Olympia	Thurston County	Washington	United States
Utility gas	36.9% (±2.8 points)	31.2%	33.0%	46.5%
Fuel oil, kerosene, etc.	0.4% (±0.4 points)	0.4%	1.3%	3.9%
Electricity	60.8% (±2.8 points)	59.6%	58.6%	41.3%
Bottled or tank gas (propane)	0.7% (±0.4 points)	4.1%	3.0%	4.9%
Wood	0.4% (±0.3 points)	3.7%	2.8%	1.4%
Solar energy	0.2% (±0.2 points)	0.3%	0.2%	0.3%
Coal or coke	0.0% (±0.2 points)	0.0%	0.0%	0.1%
Other fuel	0.1% (±0.2 points)	0.3%	0.4%	0.5%
No fuel used	0.4% (±0.4 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 Olympia, the share of homes heating with fuel oil is not measurably different from Thurston County (0.4%).

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

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

In Olympia, the share of homes heating with electricity is not measurably different from Thurston County (59.6%).

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 Olympia

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Olympia
Place	Distance	Homes heated by electricity	Compared with this place
Olympia	—	60.8% (±2.8 points)	—
Tumwater	3.7 mi	53.3% (±4.0 points)	Lower
Lacey	4.6 mi	55.4% (±3.0 points)	Lower
Tanglewilde	5.4 mi	43.5% (±8.9 points)	Lower
DuPont	13 mi	43.0% (±6.8 points)	Lower
Anderson Island	13 mi	95.4% (±4.0 points)	Higher
Tenino	13 mi	89.3% (±3.8 points)	Higher
Yelm	14 mi	58.0% (±6.8 points)	Not measurably different
Longbranch	14 mi	60.2% (±13.8 points)	Not measurably different

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Tumwater, WA (53.3%), Lacey, WA (55.4%), Tanglewilde, WA (43.5%).

Nearby places with a measurably higher figure: Anderson Island, WA (95.4%), Tenino, WA (89.3%).

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

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

Rank	Place	Homes heated by fuel oil
1	Rochester	2.3% (±2.6 points)
2	Bucoda	2.2% (±3.1 points)
3	Tumwater	0.6% (±0.5 points)
4 (tie)	Olympia	0.4% (±0.4 points)
4 (tie)	Tenino	0.4% (±0.6 points)
6	Lacey	0.1% (±0.2 points)
7 (tie)	Grand Mound	0.0% (±3.2 points)
7 (tie)	North Yelm	0.0% (±3.7 points)
7 (tie)	Rainier	0.0% (±4.9 points)
7 (tie)	Tanglewilde	0.0% (±1.6 points)

Showing 10 of 11 places in Thurston County, ranked from highest to lowest.

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 Olympia

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

Electricity is the most common heating fuel in Olympia, used by 60.8% of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

How many homes in Olympia heat with oil?

0.4% (±0.4 points) of occupied homes in Olympia use fuel oil or kerosene as their main heating fuel.

How many homes in Olympia have electric heat?

60.8% (±2.8 points) of occupied homes in Olympia heat mainly with electricity, which includes heat pumps.

Sources

Selected Housing Characteristics (DP04), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Olympia city, 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 Olympia city, Washington (place:51300, 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.