How are homes heated in Milwaukee, WI?

Name: Heating fuel in Milwaukee, WI, 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 Milwaukee, used by 77.9% (±0.7 points) of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

18.5% heat with electricity.

0.5% heat with fuel oil or kerosene.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Utility gas: 77.9% (±0.7 points)
Electricity: 18.5%
Fuel oil, kerosene: 0.5%

Heating fuel in Milwaukee

Occupied housing units by house heating fuel, 2020–2024
Fuel used most	Milwaukee	Milwaukee County	Wisconsin	United States
Utility gas	77.9% (±0.7 points)	77.2%	64.8%	46.5%
Fuel oil, kerosene, etc.	0.5% (±0.1 points)	0.6%	1.4%	3.9%
Electricity	18.5% (±0.6 points)	19.2%	17.8%	41.3%
Bottled or tank gas (propane)	1.2% (±0.2 points)	1.2%	11.8%	4.9%
Wood	0.1% (±0.1 points)	0.2%	2.7%	1.4%
Solar energy	0.1% (±0.1 points)	0.1%	0.1%	0.3%
Coal or coke	0.0% (±0.1 points)	0.0%	0.0%	0.1%
Other fuel	0.8% (±0.1 points)	0.8%	0.8%	0.5%
No fuel used	0.9% (±0.2 points)	0.8%	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 Milwaukee, the share of homes heating with fuel oil is not measurably different from Milwaukee County (0.6%).

It is also lower than in Wisconsin (1.4%).

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

In Milwaukee, the share of homes heating with electricity is not measurably different from Milwaukee County (19.2%).

It is also higher than in Wisconsin (17.8%).

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

Homes heated by electricity in places near Milwaukee

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Milwaukee
Place	Distance	Homes heated by electricity	Compared with this place
Milwaukee	—	18.5% (±0.6 points)	—
Wauwatosa	3.5 mi	18.6% (±1.9 points)	Not measurably different
West Milwaukee	3.5 mi	7.4% (±3.7 points)	Lower
Shorewood	4.5 mi	19.7% (±3.4 points)	Not measurably different
Glendale	4.8 mi	19.8% (±3.9 points)	Not measurably different
Whitefish Bay	4.8 mi	14.8% (±3.0 points)	Lower
West Allis	5.0 mi	20.0% (±2.1 points)	Not measurably different
Butler	6.2 mi	27.6% (±8.3 points)	Higher
Elm Grove	6.2 mi	17.8% (±5.6 points)	Not measurably different

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: West Milwaukee, WI (7.4%), Whitefish Bay, WI (14.8%).

Nearby places with a measurably higher figure: Butler, WI (27.6%).

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

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

Rank	Place	Homes heated by fuel oil
5 (tie)	West Milwaukee	0.8% (±1.4 points)
7 (tie)	Bayside	0.6% (±0.9 points)
7 (tie)	Fox Point	0.6% (±0.6 points)
7 (tie)	Franklin	0.6% (±0.3 points)
7 (tie)	Greenfield	0.6% (±0.4 points)
7 (tie)	Wauwatosa	0.6% (±0.3 points)
12	Milwaukee	0.5% (±0.1 points)
13 (tie)	Brown Deer	0.2% (±0.4 points)
13 (tie)	Shorewood	0.2% (±0.2 points)
15 (tie)	Greendale	0.1% (±0.2 points)
15 (tie)	Oak Creek	0.1% (±0.1 points)
17 (tie)	Hales Corners	0.0% (±0.7 points)
17 (tie)	River Hills	0.0% (±4.0 points)

Showing 13 of 19 places in Milwaukee 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 Milwaukee

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

Utility gas is the most common heating fuel in Milwaukee, used by 77.9% of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

How many homes in Milwaukee heat with oil?

0.5% (±0.1 points) of occupied homes in Milwaukee use fuel oil or kerosene as their main heating fuel.

How many homes in Milwaukee have electric heat?

18.5% (±0.6 points) of occupied homes in Milwaukee heat mainly with electricity, which includes heat pumps.

Sources

Selected Housing Characteristics (DP04), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Milwaukee city, Wisconsin

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 Milwaukee city, Wisconsin (place:53000, in state:55).

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.