Households have a choice of fuels that can be used when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the preferred choice in Hampden, used by 1,473,396 or 52% of households. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for Hampden families is Electricity, used by 610,876 homes (22%). The rest of the 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)

Year	Natural Gas	Propane	Electricity	Oil	Wood	Solar	Other
2025	1,473,396	128,896	610,876	555,640	29,010	9,580	23,565
2024	1,472,791	124,926	578,927	572,376	29,933	9,004	21,569
2023	1,413,104	137,540	556,235	615,564	28,805	6,958	25,447
2022	1,443,888	131,253	509,852	627,332	30,194	6,361	26,280
2021	1,411,895	129,599	492,336	649,036	30,651	5,807	21,455
2020	1,398,855	113,994	470,610	647,570	31,378	4,678	21,500
2019	1,385,815	98,388	448,883	646,103	32,105	3,549	21,544
2018	1,374,460	92,227	434,646	657,583	28,621	3,078	20,618
2017	1,353,682	88,756	418,715	674,937	34,421	3,525	19,989
2016	1,332,610	81,858	405,055	688,925	35,051	2,421	19,478
2015	1,306,073	79,528	403,279	690,548	38,927	1,693	20,120
2014	1,310,713	77,135	371,616	703,760	41,999	825	21,307
2013	1,265,878	81,306	371,400	740,917	47,009	1,432	17,553
2012	1,249,253	68,517	365,060	772,641	43,393	487	14,495
2011	1,242,643	65,582	354,007	806,422	40,356	893	13,919
2010	1,234,502	70,046	341,806	810,266	38,813	880	14,235

Heating Oil (Fuel Oil) Use in Hampden

Heating oil has become less popular in Hampden. In the 3 years since 2022, the number of households using fuel oil declined from 627,332 to 555,640, a 11% drop.

Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Hampden

Between 2022 and today, the number of homes using propane as the primary space heating fuel declined from 131,253 to 128,896, a 2% change. Comparing 2022 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel increased from 1,443,888 to 1,473,396, a 2% change.

Electricity use for home heating in Hampden

Electric heat pump systems for home heating are gaining popularity in Hampden. Since 2022, the number of homes heating with electricity rose from 509,852 to 610,876, a 20% change.

Adoption of solar home heating systems in Hampden

Out of all fuels, solar is the safest for the environment. 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, 9,580 homes in Hampden are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 51% gain from 2022, when 6,361 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 depending on winter temperatures. As the temperature outside gets more chilly, homes’ heating systems need to burn increasing amounts of number two heating 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 Season	Average Temperature
2024 - 2025	30° F
2023 - 2024	34.5° F

Hampden County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company

For Hampden homes heating with oil, picking which of the 69 heating oil companies that serve Hampden plays a big role in determining how much money is spent on heating each winter.

Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who are willing to pay a premium for a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system pick 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 customers annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic fuel oil delivery and heating system repair. With an automatic number two heating oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s number two heating oil consumption and makes deliveries when your tank is running low. The homeowner 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 clients who are on a budget. With discount oil companies, in return for better prices, you monitor the oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order either when the level runs low or just before a major snowstorm. Examples of 2 Hampden cash heating oil companies serving Hampden include Patterson Fuel Co and Khan Oil.

Hampden Fuel Oil Company Statistics: Oil Companies Serving Hampden: 69 companies .
Average Number of Hampden Households Served per Heating Oil company : 8053

Hampden Heating Oil Delivery Overview

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

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

Hampden County Households	Hampden County Heating Oil Households
5.6M	555,640

1057 Hampden Fuel Oil Companies Go The Distance

With 582,115,838 gallons of fuel oil delivered to Hampden households the last heating season, the Hampden community looks to its 1057 oil companies when temperatures dip. 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 Hampden, two of the closest terminals are Sprague W in Springfield, MA and Buckeye in Springfield, MA. Then, the truck delivers the #2 heating oil to homes and businesses throughout Hampden and the surrounding region.

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