Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: York Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Households have a variety of fuels to choose from when it comes to heating. Heating Oil is the most common choice in York, used by 298,426 or 48% of families. The next most popular primary heating fuel for York homeowners is Propane, used by 101,382 homes (16%). The other homes are heated with Electricity (15%), Wood (10%), Natural Gas (9%), and Other (2%).
York County Residential Primary Home Heating Fuel (in Number 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
Number two heating oil has become decreasing in demand in York. In the 2 years since 2023, the number of residents using fuel oil declined from 323,666 to 298,426, a 8% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in York
Between 2023 and today, the number of houses using propane as the primary space heating fuel increased from 84,744 to 101,382, a 20% change. Comparing 2023 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel jumped from 51,811 to 53,178, a 3% change.
Electricity use for home heating in York
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more popular in York. Since 2023, the number of homes heating with electricity shot up from 79,160 to 92,432, a 17% 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 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, 3,526 homes in York are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 65% gain from 2023, when 2,137 homes had 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 fuel oil consumption changes yearly depending on winter temperatures. As the temperature outside dips, homes’ heating systems need to burn more and more heating oil to keep the house warm inside. 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 households heating with heating oil, choosing which of the 59 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 are willing to pay a premium for a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system choose one of the 155 “full-service” oil companies that serve York. Full service companies such as Heatable or Garrett Pillsbury Plumbing & Heating offer customers annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic oil delivery and heating system repair. With an automatic fuel oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s number two heating oil consumption and makes deliveries when your tank is running low. The household 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 budget-conscious. With discount oil companies, in exchange for lower prices, you monitor the fuel oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order when the oil gauge dips below a quarter tank. A few of the 2 York cash heating oil companies serving York include Welch Oil Llc and Garthwaite Energy Inc.
York Heating Oil Company Fast Facts: Oil Companies Serving York: 59 companies .
Average Number of York Houses Served per Fuel Oil company : 5058
York Heating Oil Delivery Overview
298,426 houses in York heat their homes with fuel oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when York temperatures drop as low as 17.7° F each winter. 47.8% of York houses rely on 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 |
866 York Oil Companies Go The Distance
With 246,945,991 gallons of heating oil delivered to York residences the last heating season, the York community looks to its 866 oil companies to keep warm throughout the winter. 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 fuel oil to homes and businesses throughout York and the surrounding vicinity.
