Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Coos Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Homes have a variety of fuels that can be used when it comes to heating. Heating Oil is the most common choice in Coos, used by 212,831 or 37% of families. The next most popular primary heating fuel for Coos households is Natural Gas, used by 124,974 homes (22%). The other homes are heated with Propane (21%), Electricity (12%), Wood (6%), and Other (2%).
Coos 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 Coos
Fuel oil has become less popular in Coos. In the 12 years since 2013, the number of residents using number two heating oil dropped from 239,542 to 212,831, a 11% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Coos
Between 2013 and today, the number of households using propane as the primary space heating fuel increased from 76,485 to 121,512, a 59% change. Comparing 2013 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel shot up from 101,529 to 124,974, a 23% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Coos
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more popular in Coos. Since 2013, the number of homes heating with electricity ramped up from 42,038 to 70,926, a 69% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Coos
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 Coos are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 641% gain from 2013, when 334 homes had active solar heating.
Coos County Heating Oil Trends
Last year, Coos County homeowners purchased a total of 2 million gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
Coos’s overall oil use changes from year to year correlating with how cold it gets each winter. As the temperature outside gets more chilly, homes’ boilers need to burn increasing amounts of heating oil to maintain the temperature that the thermostat is set to. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Coos was 24.1°F, which was 5.3°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
Coos County Average Winter Temperature
| Heating Season | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| 2024 - 2025 | 24.1° F |
| 2023 - 2024 | 29.4° F |
Coos County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For Coos households heating with fuel oil, selecting which of the 4 heating oil companies that serve Coos makes a big difference.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who want a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system pick one of the 0 “full-service” oil companies that serve Coos. Full service companies such as or offer clients annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic fuel oil delivery and furnace repair. With an automatic heating oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s 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 known by the names “COD Fuel” or “Cash Heating Oil” companies, discount oil companies are for customers who are budget-conscious. 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. Some of the 2 Coos cash heating oil companies serving Coos include Fitch Fuel Co Inc and Kmj Precision Fuels Inc.
Coos Fuel Oil Company Fast Facts: Fuel oil Companies Serving Coos: 4 companies .
Average Number of Coos Households Served per Number Two Heating Oil company : 53208
Coos Heating Oil Delivery Overview
212,831 families in Coos heat their homes with fuel oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Coos temperatures drop as low as 16.9° F each winter. 36.9% of Coos houses are reliant on fuel oil delivery each winter.
18.4% of Coos County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| Coos County Households | Coos County Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 1.1M | 212,831 |
14 Coos Heating Oil Companies Serving The Community
With 199,461,865 gallons of heating oil delivered to Coos families last winter, the Coos community depends on its 14 oil companies to keep warm throughout the winter. Oil delivery has two parts to it: First, an oil truck picks up oil at the nearest bulk fuel terminal (also known as a “rack”). In the case of Coos, two of the closest terminals are Sprague in Newington, NH and Gulf in Chelsea, MA. Then, the truck delivers the #2 heating oil to homes and businesses throughout Coos and the surrounding region.
