This visualization shows the primary heating fuel used in Northwest housing units in 2022 in the top map and additional housing characteristics presented in the bar graphs below.

Most homes in Oregon and Washington—the most populous states in the Northwest—use electricity for heating, typically in the form of electric resistance heating. Electric heating is also prevalent for select counties in southern Idaho.

Montana and Idaho, on the other hand, have more homes heated by natural gas (52% and 51% respectively). Areas in western Oregon, as well as pockets of eastern and western Washington also have high concentrations of natural gas heating.

Montana has the highest percentage of homes heated by propane (bottled, tank, or LP gas): for 10 counties in the state, over 45 percent of homes use propane for heating.

Additional housing characteristics, such as units in structure, year built, and the rurality of the region may play a role in heating fuel differences.

Click on a county on the map to filter the bar graphs below. Choose heating fuel from the list on the right to change the view. Hover your mouse over each county to see exact data, including the percentage of census tracts within that county that are classified as rural.

Click on the "reset" button (third from the left in the bottom right-hand toolbar) to return to the original view. To learn more about interacting with the visualizations, visit Tableau Tips.

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