Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: York Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Families have a variety of fuels to choose from when it comes to heating. Heating Oil is the most popular choice in York, used by 298,426 or 48% of families. The next most popular primary heating fuel for York families is Propane, used by 101,382 homes (16%). The remaining homes are heated with Electricity (15%), Wood (10%), Natural Gas (9%), and Other (2%).
York County Residential Primary Home Heating Fuel (No. of Households)
| Year | Natural Gas | Propane | Electricity | Oil | Wood | Solar | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 53,178 | 101,382 | 92,432 | 298,426 | 65,496 | 3,526 | 9,422 |
| 2024 | 51,248 | 98,171 | 83,361 | 309,159 | 59,610 | 3,144 | 8,226 |
| 2023 | 51,811 | 84,744 | 79,160 | 323,666 | 57,999 | 2,137 | 12,767 |
| 2022 | 48,991 | 84,304 | 63,901 | 339,456 | 51,998 | 1,704 | 11,224 |
| 2021 | 47,952 | 78,322 | 61,019 | 345,133 | 46,227 | 1,374 | 10,375 |
| 2020 | 46,351 | 73,782 | 54,514 | 345,001 | 50,077 | 1,210 | 9,402 |
| 2019 | 44,750 | 69,241 | 48,008 | 344,869 | 53,927 | 1,047 | 8,428 |
| 2018 | 44,328 | 61,194 | 41,759 | 355,904 | 54,843 | 1,169 | 8,683 |
| 2017 | 41,841 | 61,816 | 36,406 | 331,541 | 54,454 | 1,228 | 10,328 |
| 2016 | 41,879 | 52,621 | 33,543 | 333,900 | 55,290 | 312 | 11,584 |
| 2015 | 37,624 | 50,511 | 35,138 | 336,337 | 70,767 | 604 | 11,270 |
| 2014 | 37,608 | 48,027 | 28,040 | 342,185 | 78,214 | 451 | 11,692 |
| 2013 | 31,836 | 45,601 | 28,747 | 351,842 | 76,707 | 486 | 9,827 |
| 2012 | 28,621 | 41,477 | 23,260 | 374,110 | 76,225 | 635 | 6,995 |
| 2011 | 27,427 | 42,224 | 24,723 | 379,409 | 68,055 | 307 | 6,480 |
| 2010 | 23,135 | 36,617 | 27,813 | 384,021 | 65,520 | 446 | 5,177 |
Heating Oil (Fuel Oil) Use in York
Oil has become less popular in York. In the 4 years since 2021, the number of homeowners using fuel oil decreased from 345,133 to 298,426, a 14% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in York
Between 2021 and today, the number of houses using propane as the primary space heating fuel shot up from 78,322 to 101,382, a 29% change. Comparing 2021 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel increased from 47,952 to 53,178, a 11% change.
Electricity use for home heating in York
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are gaining popularity in York. Since 2021, the number of homes heating with electricity jumped from 61,019 to 92,432, a 51% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in York
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. Now, 3,526 homes in York are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 157% gain from 2021, when 1,374 homes utilized active solar heating.
York County Heating Oil Trends
Last year, York County homeowners purchased a total of 41 million gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
York’s overall oil usage fluctuates annually correlating with how cold it gets each winter. As the temperature outside gets more chilly, homes’ furnaces need to burn increasing amounts of fuel oil to maintain a constant interior temperature. Last winter, the average outside temperature in York was 24.4°F, which was 4.2°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
York County Average Winter Temperature
| Heating Season | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| 2024 - 2025 | 24.4° F |
| 2023 - 2024 | 28.6° F |
York County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For York homes heating with number two heating oil, choosing which of the 60 heating oil companies that serve York plays a big role in determining how much money is spent on heating each winter.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who want a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system select one of the 155 “full-service” oil companies that serve York. Full service companies such as Heatable or Garrett Pillsbury Plumbing & Heating offer families annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic fuel oil delivery and heating system repair. With an automatic 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 client 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 clients who are looking to save money. With discount oil companies, in exchange for lower prices, you monitor the fuel 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 York cash heating oil companies serving York include Welch Oil Llc and Garthwaite Energy Inc.
York Fuel Oil Company By The Numbers: Fuel oil Companies Serving York: 60 companies .
Average Number of York Homes Served per Number Two Heating Oil company : 4974
York Heating Oil Delivery Overview
298,426 households in York heat their homes with number two heating oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when York temperatures drop as low as 17.7° F each winter. 47.8% of York houses depend on fuel oil delivery each winter.
23.9% of York County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| York County Households | York County Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 1.2M | 298,426 |
875 York Fuel Oil Companies Go The Distance
With 246,945,991 gallons of heating oil delivered to York homes during this past winter, the York community depends on its 875 oil companies when temperatures dip. Oil delivery is a two step process: First, an oil truck picks up oil at the nearest bulk fuel terminal (also known as a “rack”). In the case of York, two of the closest terminals are Sprague in Newington, NH and Sprague in So. Portland, ME. Then, the truck delivers the oil to homes and businesses throughout York and the surrounding vicinity.
