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

Residences have a host of fuels to choose from when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the preferred choice in Norfolk, used by 1,473,396 or 52% of residents. The next most popular primary heating fuel for Norfolk 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%).

Norfolk 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 Norfolk

Fuel oil has become losing popularity in Norfolk. In the 3 years since 2022, the number of families using number two heating oil decreased from 627,332 to 555,640, a 11% drop.

Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Norfolk

Between 2022 and today, the number of homes using propane as the primary space heating fuel dipped 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 rose from 1,443,888 to 1,473,396, a 2% change.

Electricity use for home heating in Norfolk

Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more prevalent in Norfolk. Since 2022, the number of homes heating with electricity shot up from 509,852 to 610,876, a 20% change.

Adoption of solar home heating systems in Norfolk

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. Currently, 9,580 homes in Norfolk are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 51% gain from 2022, when 6,361 homes had active solar heating.

Norfolk County Heating Oil Trends

Last year, Norfolk County homeowners purchased a total of 60 million gallons of heating oil.

Short Term Trends

Norfolk’s overall number two heating oil usage fluctuates each year depending on winter temperatures. As the temperature outside gets more chilly, homes’ boilers need to burn increasing amounts of number two heating oil to keep the house warm inside. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Norfolk was 30.0°F, which was 4.5°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.

Norfolk County Average Winter Temperature

Heating Season	Average Temperature
2024 - 2025	30° F
2023 - 2024	34.5° F

Norfolk County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company

For Norfolk families heating with number two heating oil, choosing which of the 227 heating oil companies that serve Norfolk is an important decision.

Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who can afford a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system pick one of the 2310 “full-service” oil companies that serve Norfolk. Full service companies such as Ruggiero Bros Inc or Comfort Temp Oil offer customers annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic heating oil delivery and HVAC repair. With an automatic number two heating oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s fuel oil consumption and makes deliveries when your tank is running low. The customer does not need to monitor the level of the oil tank or place individual orders.

Discount Oil Companies: Often called “COD Fuel” or “Cash Heating Oil” companies, discount oil companies are for households 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 Norfolk cash heating oil companies serving Norfolk include Hughes Oil and Independent Fuel.

Norfolk Oil Company Fast Facts: Fuel oil Companies Serving Norfolk: 227 companies .
Average Number of Norfolk Homes Served per Heating Oil company : 2448

Norfolk Heating Oil Delivery Overview

555,640 families in Norfolk heat their homes with heating oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Norfolk temperatures drop as low as 24.3° F each winter. 19.6% of Norfolk households are reliant on fuel oil delivery each winter.

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

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

4526 Norfolk Heating Oil Companies You Can Bank On

With 582,115,838 gallons of fuel oil delivered to Norfolk houses during this past winter, the Norfolk community relies on its 4526 oil companies to keep warm throughout the winter. 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 Norfolk, two of the closest terminals are Sprague W in Springfield, MA and Buckeye in Springfield, MA. Then, the truck delivers the fuel oil to residences and companies throughout Norfolk and the surrounding vicinity.