Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Belknap Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Households have a variety of fuels that can be used when it comes to heating. Heating Oil is the most popular choice in Belknap, used by 212,831 or 37% of homeowners. The next most popular primary heating fuel for Belknap residents is Natural Gas, used by 124,974 homes (22%). The other homes are heated with Propane (21%), Electricity (12%), Wood (6%), and Other (2%).
Belknap County Residential Primary Home Heating Fuel (No. of Households)
| Year | Natural Gas | Propane | Electricity | Oil | Wood | Solar | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 124,974 | 121,512 | 70,926 | 212,831 | 32,268 | 2,474 | 11,835 |
| 2024 | 126,691 | 116,162 | 68,090 | 211,416 | 29,746 | 2,147 | 11,751 |
| 2023 | 118,533 | 112,909 | 64,436 | 221,554 | 35,424 | 1,544 | 10,170 |
| 2022 | 121,267 | 103,967 | 61,455 | 223,612 | 30,964 | 909 | 10,992 |
| 2021 | 121,966 | 102,208 | 58,765 | 218,724 | 30,381 | 890 | 10,002 |
| 2020 | 118,607 | 98,116 | 56,313 | 223,224 | 32,446 | 761 | 9,755 |
| 2019 | 115,248 | 94,024 | 53,861 | 227,725 | 34,512 | 632 | 9,508 |
| 2018 | 113,986 | 86,695 | 50,260 | 232,152 | 35,632 | 411 | 8,224 |
| 2017 | 111,070 | 90,341 | 47,927 | 227,681 | 37,912 | 575 | 8,850 |
| 2016 | 110,428 | 81,949 | 48,677 | 229,187 | 35,047 | 666 | 9,880 |
| 2015 | 103,292 | 78,670 | 46,002 | 232,674 | 42,472 | 488 | 10,268 |
| 2014 | 100,601 | 76,212 | 46,268 | 230,361 | 49,555 | 275 | 10,068 |
| 2013 | 101,529 | 76,485 | 42,038 | 239,542 | 44,711 | 334 | 9,251 |
| 2012 | 104,858 | 72,091 | 39,257 | 245,324 | 43,948 | 593 | 7,870 |
| 2011 | 100,958 | 74,416 | 40,613 | 252,159 | 37,084 | 280 | 7,019 |
| 2010 | 100,857 | 70,863 | 41,909 | 253,772 | 40,272 | 85 | 4,752 |
Heating Oil (Fuel Oil) Use in Belknap
Number two heating oil has become losing popularity in Belknap. In the 4 years since 2021, the number of residents using heating oil dipped from 218,724 to 212,831, a 3% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Belknap
Between 2021 and today, the number of houses using propane as the primary space heating fuel jumped from 102,208 to 121,512, a 19% change. Comparing 2021 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel grew from 121,966 to 124,974, a 2% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Belknap
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are gaining popularity in Belknap. Since 2021, the number of homes heating with electricity rose from 58,765 to 70,926, a 21% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Belknap
Out of all fuels, solar is the safest for the environment. 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. Now, 2,474 homes in Belknap are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 178% gain from 2021, when 890 homes utilized active solar heating.
Belknap County Heating Oil Trends
Last year, Belknap County homeowners purchased a total of 12 million gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
Belknap’s overall heating oil consumption varies annually based on the severity of the winter. As the temperature outside gets more chilly, homes’ HVAC systems need to burn additional number two heating oil to keep the house warm inside. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Belknap was 24.1°F, which was 5.3°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
Belknap County Average Winter Temperature
| Heating Season | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| 2024 - 2025 | 24.1° F |
| 2023 - 2024 | 29.4° F |
Belknap County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For Belknap homeowners heating with heating oil, selecting which of the 20 heating oil companies that serve Belknap can drastically impact the cost of home heating.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who value a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system pick one of the 16 “full-service” oil companies that serve Belknap. Full service companies such as Dutile & Sons Oil Company Inc or Dutile & Sons Oil Company Inc offer households annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic fuel oil delivery and boiler repair. With an automatic number two 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 household 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 oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order when the oil gauge dips below a quarter tank. Some of the 2 Belknap cash heating oil companies serving Belknap include Foley Oil Company Inc and 603 Oil Co.
Belknap Number Two Heating Oil Company By The Numbers: Number two heating oil Companies Serving Belknap: 20 companies .
Average Number of Belknap Households Served per Fuel Oil company : 10642
Belknap Heating Oil Delivery Overview
212,831 houses in Belknap heat their homes with heating oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Belknap temperatures drop as low as 16.9° F each winter. 36.9% of Belknap families depend on oil delivery each winter.
18.4% of Belknap County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| Belknap County Households | Belknap County Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 1.1M | 212,831 |
110 Belknap Heating Oil Companies Serving The Community
With 199,461,865 gallons of oil delivered to Belknap households during this past winter, the Belknap community looks to its 110 oil companies to keep their oil tanks full. 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 Belknap, two of the closest terminals are Sprague in Newington, NH and Gulf in Chelsea, MA. Then, the truck delivers the fuel oil to homes and businesses throughout Belknap and the surrounding region.
