Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Merrimack Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Homeowners have a host of fuels to choose from when it comes to heating. Heating Oil is the most popular choice in Merrimack, used by 212,831 or 37% of residents. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for Merrimack families is Natural Gas, used by 124,974 homes (22%). The remaining homes are heated with Propane (21%), Electricity (12%), Wood (6%), and Other (2%).
Merrimack 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 Merrimack
Oil has become less popular in Merrimack. In the 2 years since 2023, the number of households using heating oil dropped from 221,554 to 212,831, a 4% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Merrimack
Between 2023 and today, the number of homes using propane as the primary space heating fuel shot up from 112,909 to 121,512, a 8% change. Comparing 2023 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel jumped from 118,533 to 124,974, a 5% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Merrimack
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are increasing in demand in Merrimack. Since 2023, the number of homes heating with electricity rose from 64,436 to 70,926, a 10% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Merrimack
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. Now, 2,474 homes in Merrimack are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 60% gain from 2023, when 1,544 homes utilized active solar heating.
Merrimack County Heating Oil Trends
Last year, Merrimack County homeowners purchased a total of 18 million gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
Merrimack’s overall fuel oil use varies yearly depending on winter temperatures. As the temperature outside dips, homes’ boilers need to burn additional fuel oil to keep the house warm inside. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Merrimack was 24.1°F, which was 5.3°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
Merrimack County Average Winter Temperature
| Heating Season | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| 2024 - 2025 | 24.1° F |
| 2023 - 2024 | 29.4° F |
Merrimack County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For Merrimack households heating with oil, picking which of the 36 heating oil companies that serve Merrimack can drastically impact the cost of home heating.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who can afford a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system pick one of the 14 “full-service” oil companies that serve Merrimack. Full service companies such as Goodrich Oil & Propane Co or Goodrich Oil & Propane Co offer customers annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic oil delivery and boiler 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 family 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 looking to save money. 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 Merrimack cash heating oil companies serving Merrimack include Huckleberry Propane & Oil Llc and Clough Inc H R.
Merrimack Number Two Heating Oil Company Statistics: Oil Companies Serving Merrimack: 36 companies .
Average Number of Merrimack Homes Served per Fuel Oil company : 5912
Merrimack Heating Oil Delivery Overview
212,831 households in Merrimack heat their homes with fuel oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Merrimack temperatures drop as low as 16.9° F each winter. 36.9% of Merrimack houses are reliant on number two heating oil delivery each winter.
18.4% of Merrimack County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| Merrimack County Households | Merrimack County Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 1.1M | 212,831 |
235 Merrimack Oil Companies Go The Distance
With 199,461,865 gallons of fuel oil delivered to Merrimack families the last heating season, the Merrimack community looks to its 235 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 Merrimack, 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 Merrimack and the surrounding area.
