Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Nantucket Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Families have a variety of fuels that can be used when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the preferred choice in Nantucket, used by 1,473,396 or 52% of families. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for Nantucket 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%).
Nantucket County Residential Primary Home Heating Fuel (No. 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 Nantucket
Oil has become losing popularity in Nantucket. In the 12 years since 2013, the number of households using oil fell from 740,917 to 555,640, a 25% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Nantucket
Between 2013 and today, the number of houses using propane as the primary space heating fuel increased from 81,306 to 128,896, a 59% change. Comparing 2013 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel increased from 1,265,878 to 1,473,396, a 16% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Nantucket
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more popular in Nantucket. Since 2013, the number of homes heating with electricity rose from 371,400 to 610,876, a 64% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Nantucket
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 Nantucket are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 569% gain from 2013, when 1,432 homes utilized active solar heating.
Nantucket County Heating Oil Trends
Last year, Nantucket County homeowners purchased a total of 1 million gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
Nantucket’s overall oil use fluctuates annually correlating with how cold it gets each winter. As the temperature outside dips, homes’ HVAC systems need to burn more and more number two heating oil to maintain the temperature that the thermostat is set to. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Nantucket was 30.0°F, which was 4.5°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
Nantucket County Average Winter Temperature
| Heating Season | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| 2024 - 2025 | 30° F |
| 2023 - 2024 | 34.5° F |
Nantucket County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For Nantucket homes heating with heating oil, selecting which of the 3 heating oil companies that serve Nantucket can drastically impact the cost of home heating.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who prefer a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system pick one of the 1 “full-service” oil companies that serve Nantucket. Full service companies such as Harbor Fuel Oil Corp or offer homeowners annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic number two heating oil delivery and HVAC repair. With an automatic fuel oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s 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 known by the names “COD Fuel” or “Cash Heating Oil” companies, discount oil companies are for customers who are on a budget. With discount oil companies, in exchange for lower prices, you monitor the number two heating oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order when the oil gauge dips below a quarter tank. Examples of 2 Nantucket cash heating oil companies serving Nantucket include Apex Oil Co Inc and Sun Island Fuel Inc.
Nantucket Fuel Oil Company Fast Facts: Fuel oil Companies Serving Nantucket: 3 companies .
Average Number of Nantucket Houses Served per Number Two Heating Oil company : 185213
Nantucket Heating Oil Delivery Overview
555,640 households in Nantucket heat their homes with fuel oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Nantucket temperatures drop as low as 24.3° F each winter. 19.6% of Nantucket homes are reliant on number two heating oil delivery each winter.
9.8% of Nantucket County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| Nantucket County Households | Nantucket County Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 5.6M | 555,640 |
3 Nantucket Fuel Oil Companies Serving The Community
With 582,115,838 gallons of number two heating oil delivered to Nantucket homes during this past winter, the Nantucket community depends on its 3 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 Nantucket, 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 Nantucket and the surrounding vicinity.
