Wheeler County
County Seat: Fossil
Area (square miles): 1,715
Population (2018): 1,465
Black, Indigenous, and People of Color Population Share: 15%
Households: 661
Regional Typical Annual Household Income: $33,487
Poverty & Energy Burden
Energy Burdened* Households: 51%
Federal Poverty Level (family of three): $21,720
200% Federal Poverty Level: $43,440
Annual Energy Burden Gap**: $941
Homes
Homes Built Before 1990: 68%
Owner-occupied Homes: 70%
Renter-occupied Homes: 30%
Energy
Average Annual Residential Electricity: 13,205 kWh
Average Annual Electricity Cost: $1,396
Average Annual Residential Natural Gas Therms: N/A
Average Annual Natural Gas Cost: N/A
Electricity and Natural Gas Average Costs (percent of typical income): 4%
Home Primary Heating
Electricity: 34%
Natural Gas: 1%
Propane: 12%
Wood: 36%
Travel
Average Annual Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) Per Household: 21,448
VMT Cost (fuel, maintenance, repairs): $3,440
VMT as Percent of Regional Typical Income: 10%
VMT as Percent of 200% Federal Poverty Level Income:16%
*An individual or family is considered energy burdened if they spend 6% or more of their income on energy costs.
** Amount needed to reduce energy costs to 6% of household income for household at 200% federal poverty level.