Homeowners have a variety of fuels that can be used when it comes to heating. Heating Oil is the most popular choice in Hillsborough, used by 212,831 or 37% of families. The next most popular primary heating fuel for Hillsborough homeowners is Natural Gas, used by 124,974 homes (22%). The rest of the homes are heated with Propane (21%), Electricity (12%), Wood (6%), and Other (2%).

Hillsborough County Residential Primary Home Heating Fuel (in Number 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 Hillsborough

Oil has become less frequently used in Hillsborough. In the 11 years since 2014, the number of families using fuel oil decreased from 230,361 to 212,831, a 8% drop.

Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Hillsborough

Between 2014 and today, the number of homes using propane as the primary space heating fuel ramped up from 76,212 to 121,512, a 59% change. Comparing 2014 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel jumped from 100,601 to 124,974, a 24% change.

Electricity use for home heating in Hillsborough

Electric heat pump systems for home heating are increasing in demand in Hillsborough. Since 2014, the number of homes heating with electricity shot up from 46,268 to 70,926, a 53% change.

Adoption of solar home heating systems in Hillsborough

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, 2,474 homes in Hillsborough are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 800% gain from 2014, when 275 homes had active solar heating.

Hillsborough County Heating Oil Trends

Last year, Hillsborough County homeowners purchased a total of 43 million gallons of heating oil.

Short Term Trends

Hillsborough’s overall oil use changes annually based on the severity of the winter. As the temperature outside dips, homes’ heating systems need to burn increasing amounts of fuel oil to keep the house warm inside. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Hillsborough was 24.1°F, which was 5.3°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.

Hillsborough County Average Winter Temperature

Heating Season	Average Temperature
2024 - 2025	24.1° F
2023 - 2024	29.4° F

Hillsborough County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company

For Hillsborough homeowners heating with fuel oil, choosing which of the 53 heating oil companies that serve Hillsborough is an important decision.

Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who are willing to pay a premium for a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system pick one of the 56 “full-service” oil companies that serve Hillsborough. Full service companies such as Absco Heating or NRG Fuel LLC offer households annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic number two heating oil delivery and HVAC repair. With an automatic oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s 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 customers who are budget-conscious. 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. A few of the 2 Hillsborough cash heating oil companies serving Hillsborough include Lemay Oil Services and McLaughlin Oil.

Hillsborough Heating Oil Company Fast Facts: Oil Companies Serving Hillsborough: 53 companies .
Average Number of Hillsborough Houses Served per Heating Oil company : 4016

Hillsborough Heating Oil Delivery Overview

212,831 residences in Hillsborough heat their homes with fuel oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Hillsborough temperatures drop as low as 16.9° F each winter. 36.9% of Hillsborough residences depend on heating oil delivery each winter.

18.4% of Hillsborough County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter

Hillsborough County Households	Hillsborough County Heating Oil Households
1.1M	212,831

440 Hillsborough Oil Companies Homeowners Can Count On

With 199,461,865 gallons of heating oil delivered to Hillsborough houses last winter, the Hillsborough community looks to its 440 oil companies to keep their oil tanks full. 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 Hillsborough, two of the closest terminals are Sprague in Newington, NH and Gulf in Chelsea, MA. Then, the truck delivers the number two heating oil to residences and companies throughout Hillsborough and the surrounding region.

Heating Oil Near You In These Adjacent Counties

Rockingham County, NH

Strafford County, NH

Sullivan County, NH