How are homes heated in Terra Alta, WV?

Name: Heating fuel in Terra Alta, 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 Terra Alta, used by 59.7% (±9.8 points) of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

18.8% heat with electricity.

1.1% heat with fuel oil or kerosene.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Utility gas: 59.7% (±9.8 points)
Electricity: 18.8%
Fuel oil, kerosene: 1.1%

Heating fuel in Terra Alta

Occupied housing units by house heating fuel, 2020–2024
Fuel used most	Terra Alta	Preston County	West Virginia	United States
Utility gas	59.7% (±9.8 points)	21.5%	40.5%	46.5%
Fuel oil, kerosene, etc.	1.1% (±1.2 points)	13.2%	2.1%	3.9%
Electricity	18.8% (±8.4 points)	29.9%	46.1%	41.3%
Bottled or tank gas (propane)	3.5% (±2.3 points)	19.7%	5.4%	4.9%
Wood	14.6% (±7.1 points)	11.5%	4.6%	1.4%
Solar energy	0.0% (±5.7 points)	0.0%	0.0%	0.3%
Coal or coke	0.0% (±5.7 points)	2.4%	0.3%	0.1%
Other fuel	2.4% (±2.8 points)	1.2%	0.5%	0.5%
No fuel used	0.0% (±5.7 points)	0.6%	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 Terra Alta, the share of homes heating with fuel oil is lower than in Preston County (13.2%).

It is not measurably different from West Virginia (2.1%).

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

In Terra Alta, the share of homes heating with electricity is lower than in Preston County (29.9%).

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 Terra Alta

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Terra Alta
Place	Distance	Homes heated by electricity	Compared with this place
Terra Alta	—	18.8% (±8.4 points)	—
Albright	6.2 mi	21.1% (±14.9 points)	Not measurably different
Kingwood	7.6 mi	30.0% (±9.8 points)	Not measurably different
Oakland	7.8 mi	42.2% (±11.0 points)	Higher
Mountain Lake Park	9.2 mi	46.2% (±8.0 points)	Higher
Rowlesburg	9.7 mi	20.6% (±9.3 points)	Not measurably different
Loch Lynn Heights	9.8 mi	28.0% (±11.3 points)	Not measurably different
Tunnelton	11 mi	31.4% (±20.2 points)	Not measurably different
Deer Park	12 mi	20.3% (±11.4 points)	Not measurably different

Nearby places with a measurably higher figure: Oakland, MD (42.2%), Mountain Lake Park, MD (46.2%).

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

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

Rank	Place	Homes heated by fuel oil
3	Bruceton Mills	16.7% (±23.5 points)
4	Brandonville	12.7% (±17.9 points)
5	Reedsville	8.3% (±7.8 points)
6	Rowlesburg	5.0% (±4.8 points)
7	Albright	3.3% (±5.4 points)
8	Tunnelton	1.2% (±2.0 points)
9	Terra Alta	1.1% (±1.2 points)
10	Kingwood	0.9% (±1.4 points)

Showing 8 of 10 places in Preston 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 Terra Alta

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

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

How many homes in Terra Alta heat with oil?

1.1% (±1.2 points) of occupied homes in Terra Alta use fuel oil or kerosene as their main heating fuel.

How many homes in Terra Alta have electric heat?

18.8% (±8.4 points) of occupied homes in Terra Alta heat mainly with electricity, which includes heat pumps.

Sources

Selected Housing Characteristics (DP04), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Terra Alta town, 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 Terra Alta town, West Virginia (place:79708, 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.