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Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Hampden Home Heating Fuel Comparison

Households have a host of fuels that can be used when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the most common choice in Hampden, used by 1,473,396 or 52% of households. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for Hampden residents is Electricity, used by 610,876 homes (22%). The other homes are heated with Heating Oil (20%), Propane (5%), Wood (1%), and Other (1%).

Hampden County Residential Primary Home Heating Fuel (in Number of Households)

YearNatural GasPropaneElectricityOilWoodSolarOther
20251,473,396128,896610,876555,64029,0109,58023,565
20241,472,791124,926578,927572,37629,9339,00421,569
20231,413,104137,540556,235615,56428,8056,95825,447
20221,443,888131,253509,852627,33230,1946,36126,280
20211,411,895129,599492,336649,03630,6515,80721,455
20201,398,855113,994470,610647,57031,3784,67821,500
20191,385,81598,388448,883646,10332,1053,54921,544
20181,374,46092,227434,646657,58328,6213,07820,618
20171,353,68288,756418,715674,93734,4213,52519,989
20161,332,61081,858405,055688,92535,0512,42119,478
20151,306,07379,528403,279690,54838,9271,69320,120
20141,310,71377,135371,616703,76041,99982521,307
20131,265,87881,306371,400740,91747,0091,43217,553
20121,249,25368,517365,060772,64143,39348714,495
20111,242,64365,582354,007806,42240,35689313,919
20101,234,50270,046341,806810,26638,81388014,235

Heating Oil (Fuel Oil) Use in Hampden

Heating oil has become less popular in Hampden. In the 1 years since 2024, the number of families using oil fell from 572,376 to 555,640, a 3% drop.

Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Hampden

Between 2024 and today, the number of homes using propane as the primary space heating fuel shot up from 124,926 to 128,896, a 3% change. Comparing 2024 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel remained stable at 1,473,396, a 0% change.

Electricity use for home heating in Hampden

Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more prevalent in Hampden. Since 2024, the number of homes heating with electricity grew from 578,927 to 610,876, a 6% change.

Adoption of solar home heating systems in Hampden

Solar is the most environmentally friendly of all heating fuels. With an “active” solar heating system, liquid flows between solar panels on a home’s roof and a heat energy storage tank (similar to a hot water heater) in the basement. Now, 9,580 homes in Hampden are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 6% gain from 2024, when 9,004 homes incorporated active solar heating.

Hampden County Heating Oil Trends

Last year, Hampden County homeowners purchased a total of 37 million gallons of heating oil.

Short Term Trends

Hampden’s overall fuel oil consumption fluctuates annually as winter conditions change. As the temperature outside gets more chilly, homes’ furnaces need to burn additional oil to maintain a constant interior temperature. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Hampden was 30.0°F, which was 4.5°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.

Hampden County Average Winter Temperature

Heating SeasonAverage Temperature
2024 - 202530° F
2023 - 202434.5° F

Hampden County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company

For Hampden homeowners heating with number two heating oil, picking which of the 69 heating oil companies that serve Hampden can drastically impact the cost of home heating.

Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who value a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system choose one of the 502 “full-service” oil companies that serve Hampden. Full service companies such as Richard's Fuel & Heating Inc or Fuel Services Inc offer families annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic heating oil delivery and heating system repair. With an automatic oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s number two heating oil consumption and makes deliveries when your tank is running low. The family does not need to monitor the level of the oil tank or place individual orders.

Discount Oil Companies: also referred to as “COD Fuel” or “Cash Heating Oil” companies, discount oil companies are for households who are budget-conscious. With discount oil companies, in return for better prices, you monitor the fuel oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order when you're running low. Examples of 2 Hampden cash heating oil companies serving Hampden include Patterson Fuel Co and Khan Oil.

Hampden Number Two Heating Oil Company By The Numbers: Oil Companies Serving Hampden: 69 companies .
Average Number of Hampden Households Served per Number Two Heating Oil company : 8053

Hampden Heating Oil Delivery Overview

555,640 houses in Hampden heat their homes with heating oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Hampden temperatures drop as low as 24.3° F each winter. 19.6% of Hampden households rely on oil delivery each winter.

9.8% of Hampden County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter

Hampden County HouseholdsHampden County Heating Oil Households
5.6M555,640

1057 Hampden Fuel Oil Companies You Can Trust

With 582,115,838 gallons of heating oil delivered to Hampden residences during this past winter, the Hampden community relies on its 1057 oil companies to keep their oil tanks full. Oil delivery can be summed up in two steps: First, an oil truck picks up oil at the nearest bulk fuel terminal (also known as a “rack”). In the case of Hampden, two of the closest terminals are Sprague W in Springfield, MA and Buckeye in Springfield, MA. Then, the truck delivers the oil to homes and businesses throughout Hampden and the surrounding vicinity.