How are homes heated in Seattle, WA?

Name: Heating fuel in Seattle, 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 Seattle, used by 61.1% (±0.7 points) of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

32.8% heat with utility gas.

2.9% heat with fuel oil or kerosene.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Utility gas: 32.8% (±0.7 points)
Electricity: 61.1%
Fuel oil, kerosene: 2.9%

Heating fuel in Seattle

Occupied housing units by house heating fuel, 2020–2024
Fuel used most	Seattle	King County	Washington	United States
Utility gas	32.8% (±0.7 points)	39.9%	33.0%	46.5%
Fuel oil, kerosene, etc.	2.9% (±0.2 points)	2.2%	1.3%	3.9%
Electricity	61.1% (±0.7 points)	54.5%	58.6%	41.3%
Bottled or tank gas (propane)	0.9% (±0.1 points)	1.4%	3.0%	4.9%
Wood	0.2% (±0.1 points)	0.6%	2.8%	1.4%
Solar energy	0.3% (±0.1 points)	0.2%	0.2%	0.3%
Coal or coke	0.0% (±0.1 points)	0.0%	0.0%	0.1%
Other fuel	0.5% (±0.1 points)	0.4%	0.4%	0.5%
No fuel used	1.3% (±0.2 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 Seattle, the share of homes heating with fuel oil is higher than in King County (2.2%).

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

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

In Seattle, the share of homes heating with electricity is higher than in King County (54.5%).

It is also higher than in Washington (58.6%).

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

Homes heated by electricity in places near Seattle

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Seattle
Place	Distance	Homes heated by electricity	Compared with this place
Seattle	—	61.1% (±0.7 points)	—
Medina	5.1 mi	19.6% (±5.0 points)	Lower
Hunts Point	5.9 mi	27.4% (±11.3 points)	Lower
Clyde Hill	6.3 mi	14.5% (±4.8 points)	Lower
Yarrow Point	6.4 mi	21.8% (±6.5 points)	Lower
Mercer Island	6.8 mi	37.9% (±3.5 points)	Lower
Beaux Arts Village	7.3 mi	18.6% (±10.7 points)	Lower
Bainbridge Island	7.4 mi	77.8% (±3.1 points)	Higher
Boulevard Park	7.5 mi	76.5% (±10.2 points)	Higher

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Medina, WA (19.6%), Hunts Point, WA (27.4%), Clyde Hill, WA (14.5%).

Nearby places with a measurably higher figure: Bainbridge Island, WA (77.8%), Boulevard Park, WA (76.5%).

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

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

Rank	Place	Homes heated by fuel oil
12 (tie)	SeaTac	4.2% (±1.4 points)
12 (tie)	White Center	4.2% (±1.5 points)
14 (tie)	Lake Holm	4.1% (±4.7 points)
14 (tie)	Shoreline	4.1% (±0.9 points)
16	Lake Morton-Berrydale	3.8% (±3.4 points)
17	Maple Heights-Lake Desire	3.1% (±2.5 points)
18	Seattle	2.9% (±0.2 points)
19	Tukwila	2.4% (±1.2 points)
20	Medina	1.9% (±1.9 points)
21	East Renton Highlands	1.4% (±1.1 points)
22	Fairwood (King County)	1.3% (±0.9 points)
23	Mercer Island	1.2% (±0.7 points)
24 (tie)	Kenmore	1.1% (±0.8 points)

Showing 13 of 59 places in King 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 Seattle

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

Electricity is the most common heating fuel in Seattle, used by 61.1% of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

How many homes in Seattle heat with oil?

2.9% (±0.2 points) of occupied homes in Seattle use fuel oil or kerosene as their main heating fuel.

How many homes in Seattle have electric heat?

61.1% (±0.7 points) of occupied homes in Seattle heat mainly with electricity, which includes heat pumps.

Sources

Selected Housing Characteristics (DP04), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Seattle 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 Seattle city, Washington (place:63000, 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.