Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Hartford Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Homeowners have a host of fuels to choose from when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the most common choice in Hartford, used by 537,918 or 37% of families. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for Hartford homeowners is Heating Oil, used by 491,612 homes (34%). The rest of the homes are heated with Electricity (21%), Propane (6%), Wood (1%), and Other (1%).
Hartford County Residential Primary Home Heating Fuel (No. of Households)
| Year | Natural Gas | Propane | Electricity | Oil | Wood | Solar | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 537,918 | 88,504 | 302,730 | 491,612 | 19,550 | 6,488 | 10,689 |
| 2024 | 526,146 | 82,630 | 293,463 | 509,593 | 21,103 | 5,852 | 10,146 |
| 2023 | 530,315 | 92,469 | 276,839 | 496,091 | 19,885 | 4,238 | 15,392 |
| 2022 | 519,969 | 86,596 | 262,494 | 520,424 | 18,487 | 2,985 | 13,466 |
| 2021 | 506,772 | 80,721 | 258,306 | 532,053 | 22,992 | 2,966 | 14,306 |
| 2020 | 503,622 | 73,848 | 247,960 | 533,736 | 22,648 | 1,909 | 11,330 |
| 2019 | 500,471 | 66,974 | 237,614 | 535,420 | 22,304 | 852 | 8,355 |
| 2018 | 497,422 | 60,526 | 232,420 | 549,036 | 22,954 | 1,579 | 8,782 |
| 2017 | 478,136 | 55,608 | 219,208 | 562,247 | 24,510 | 1,029 | 10,257 |
| 2016 | 476,852 | 55,631 | 230,532 | 554,283 | 23,580 | 900 | 9,232 |
| 2015 | 471,195 | 51,915 | 214,414 | 561,996 | 29,530 | 937 | 8,159 |
| 2014 | 464,748 | 49,540 | 212,031 | 576,948 | 34,478 | 554 | 11,670 |
| 2013 | 449,787 | 46,397 | 209,463 | 585,757 | 29,361 | 401 | 10,236 |
| 2012 | 442,443 | 43,849 | 212,708 | 615,734 | 27,351 | 378 | 9,891 |
| 2011 | 437,840 | 43,778 | 207,267 | 625,164 | 25,707 | 611 | 7,588 |
| 2010 | 427,850 | 39,533 | 203,568 | 650,621 | 26,373 | 299 | 7,110 |
Heating Oil (Fuel Oil) Use in Hartford
Heating oil has become less popular in Hartford. In the 8 years since 2017, the number of homeowners using number two heating oil dropped from 562,247 to 491,612, a 13% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Hartford
Between 2017 and today, the number of homes using propane as the primary space heating fuel shot up from 55,608 to 88,504, a 59% change. Comparing 2017 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel increased from 478,136 to 537,918, a 13% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Hartford
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more popular in Hartford. Since 2017, the number of homes heating with electricity rose from 219,208 to 302,730, a 38% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Hartford
Solar is the most environmentally friendly of all heating fuels. With an “active” solar heating system, liquid is circulated between solar panels on a home’s roof and a heat energy storage tank (similar to a hot water heater) in the basement. Currently, 6,488 homes in Hartford are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 531% gain from 2017, when 1,029 homes used active solar heating.
Hartford County Heating Oil Trends
Last year, Hartford County homeowners purchased a total of 79 million gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
Hartford’s overall fuel oil usage varies annually as winter conditions change. As the temperature outside dips, homes’ HVAC systems need to burn more and more heating oil to maintain a constant interior temperature. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Hartford was 30.6°F, which was 4.6°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
Hartford County Average Winter Temperature
| Heating Season | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| 2024 - 2025 | 30.6° F |
| 2023 - 2024 | 35.2° F |
Hartford County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For Hartford homeowners heating with fuel oil, picking which of the 256 heating oil companies that serve Hartford makes a big difference.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who can afford a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system pick one of the 3101 “full-service” oil companies that serve Hartford. Full service companies such as Aaa Oil Company or Spring Brook Ice & Fuel offer households annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic number two heating oil delivery and boiler repair. With an automatic heating oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s heating oil consumption and makes deliveries when your tank is running low. The client does not need to monitor the level of the oil tank or place individual orders.
Discount Oil Companies: Also known by the names “COD Fuel” or “Cash Heating Oil” companies, discount oil companies are for families who are looking to save money. With discount oil companies, in exchange for lower prices, you monitor the heating oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order when you're running low. Examples of 2 Hartford cash heating oil companies serving Hartford include R & D Oil Service and Bystrek's Oil Company LLC.
Hartford Heating Oil Company Statistics: Fuel oil Companies Serving Hartford: 256 companies .
Average Number of Hartford Houses Served per Number Two Heating Oil company : 1920
Hartford Heating Oil Delivery Overview
491,612 houses in Hartford heat their homes with fuel oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Hartford temperatures drop as low as 25.1° F each winter. 33.7% of Hartford families depend on heating oil delivery each winter.
16.8% of Hartford County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| Hartford County Households | Hartford County Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 2.9M | 491,612 |
4981 Hartford Oil Companies Go The Distance
With 397,280,973 gallons of heating oil delivered to Hartford houses the last heating season, the Hartford community looks to its 4981 oil companies to keep warm throughout the winter. Oil delivery has two parts to it: First, an oil truck picks up oil at the nearest bulk fuel terminal (also known as a “rack”). In the case of Hartford, two of the closest terminals are Buckeye in Wethersfield, CT and Sprague W in Springfield, MA. Then, the truck delivers the oil to residences and companies throughout Hartford and the surrounding region.
