How are homes heated in Charleston, WV?

Name: Heating fuel in Charleston, WV, 2020–2024
Creator: US Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

Utility gas is the most common heating fuel in Charleston, used by 59.7% (±2.6 points) of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

38.6% heat with electricity.

0.0% heat with fuel oil or kerosene.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Utility gas: 59.7% (±2.6 points)
Electricity: 38.6%
Fuel oil, kerosene: 0.0%

Heating fuel in Charleston

Occupied housing units by house heating fuel, 2020–2024
Fuel used most	Charleston	Kanawha County	West Virginia	United States
Utility gas	59.7% (±2.6 points)	52.7%	40.5%	46.5%
Fuel oil, kerosene, etc.	0.0% (±0.2 points)	0.3%	2.1%	3.9%
Electricity	38.6% (±2.6 points)	43.9%	46.1%	41.3%
Bottled or tank gas (propane)	0.3% (±0.2 points)	1.2%	5.4%	4.9%
Wood	0.7% (±0.5 points)	1.3%	4.6%	1.4%
Solar energy	0.0% (±0.2 points)	0.0%	0.0%	0.3%
Coal or coke	0.0% (±0.2 points)	0.0%	0.3%	0.1%
Other fuel	0.2% (±0.1 points)	0.2%	0.5%	0.5%
No fuel used	0.5% (±0.3 points)	0.3%	0.4%	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 Charleston, the share of homes heating with fuel oil is lower than in Kanawha County (0.3%).

It is also lower than in West Virginia (2.1%).

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

In Charleston, the share of homes heating with electricity is lower than in Kanawha County (43.9%).

It is also lower than in West Virginia (46.1%).

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

Homes heated by electricity in places near Charleston

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Charleston
Place	Distance	Homes heated by electricity	Compared with this place
Charleston	—	38.6% (±2.6 points)	—
South Charleston	4.3 mi	34.5% (±5.4 points)	Not measurably different
Dunbar	5.8 mi	36.7% (±6.0 points)	Not measurably different
Rand	5.9 mi	29.2% (±14.8 points)	Not measurably different
Coal Fork	6.1 mi	21.0% (±14.9 points)	Lower
Marmet	7.8 mi	46.4% (±9.4 points)	Not measurably different
Pinch	9.3 mi	49.9% (±12.6 points)	Not measurably different
Belle	9.4 mi	22.1% (±10.0 points)	Lower
Cross Lanes	9.6 mi	66.8% (±7.4 points)	Higher

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Coal Fork, WV (21.0%), Belle, WV (22.1%).

Nearby places with a measurably higher figure: Cross Lanes, WV (66.8%).

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

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

Rank	Place	Homes heated by fuel oil
1	Sissonville	2.9% (±4.4 points)
2	Cross Lanes	1.4% (±2.2 points)
3	South Charleston	0.1% (±0.2 points)
4 (tie)	Belle	0.0% (±5.9 points)
4 (tie)	Cedar Grove	0.0% (±14.9 points)
4 (tie)	Charleston	0.0% (±0.2 points)
4 (tie)	Chesapeake	0.0% (±4.9 points)
4 (tie)	Clendenin	0.0% (±12.1 points)
4 (tie)	Coal Fork	0.0% (±7.0 points)
4 (tie)	Dunbar	0.0% (±1.0 points)
4 (tie)	East Bank	0.0% (±11.0 points)
4 (tie)	Glasgow	0.0% (±10.6 points)

Showing 12 of 20 places in Kanawha 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.

What you can do on Seayora in Charleston

One account for renting, owning, managing and fixing homes, with these figures beside you.

Do repairs, renovations or maintenance?

Get found by owners and renters near Charleston, and send estimates and invoices from your phone.

Join as a pro · Find a pro

Own or manage a rental?

List it, sign the lease and collect rent online, with the figures for Charleston beside you.

Create a landlord account · See what landlords get

Looking for a place to rent?

Browse homes for rent near Charleston, save the ones you like and apply online.

Browse rentals · Create a renter account

Questions about Charleston

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

Utility gas is the most common heating fuel in Charleston, used by 59.7% of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

How many homes in Charleston heat with oil?

0.0% (±0.2 points) of occupied homes in Charleston use fuel oil or kerosene as their main heating fuel.

How many homes in Charleston have electric heat?

38.6% (±2.6 points) of occupied homes in Charleston heat mainly with electricity, which includes heat pumps.

Sources

Selected Housing Characteristics (DP04), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Charleston city, West 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 Charleston city, West Virginia (place:14600, in state:54).

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.