Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: York Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Homes 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 households. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for York families 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
Fuel oil has become less popular in York. In the 11 years since 2014, the number of families using number two heating oil fell from 342,185 to 298,426, a 13% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in York
Between 2014 and today, the number of households using propane as the primary space heating fuel ramped up from 48,027 to 101,382, a 111% change. Comparing 2014 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel rose from 37,608 to 53,178, a 41% change.
Electricity use for home heating in York
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more popular in York. Since 2014, the number of homes heating with electricity shot up from 28,040 to 92,432, a 230% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in York
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, 3,526 homes in York are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 682% gain from 2014, when 451 homes incorporated 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 number two heating oil use changes yearly primarily depending on how cold each winter is. As the temperature outside drops, homes’ heating systems need to burn additional 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 homeowners heating with oil, selecting which of the 59 heating oil companies that serve York makes a big difference.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who prefer 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 clients annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic 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 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 families who are budget-conscious. With discount oil companies, in return for better 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 Fuel Oil Company Statistics: Number two heating oil Companies Serving York: 59 companies .
Average Number of York Houses Served per Fuel Oil company : 5058
York Heating Oil Delivery Overview
298,426 households in York heat their homes with oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when York temperatures drop as low as 17.7° F each winter. 47.8% of York households depend on number two heating 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 Serving The Community
With 246,945,991 gallons of heating oil delivered to York houses the last heating season, the York community looks to its 866 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 number two heating oil to homes and businesses throughout York and the surrounding region.
