Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Hamilton Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Households have a host of fuels to choose from when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the most popular choice in Hamilton, used by 4,725,574 or 61% of residents. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for Hamilton households is Electricity, used by 1,365,710 homes (18%). The other homes are heated with Heating Oil (14%), Propane (5%), Other (1%), and Wood (1%).
Hamilton County Residential Primary Home Heating Fuel (in Number of Households)
| Year | Natural Gas | Propane | Electricity | Oil | Wood | Solar | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 4,725,574 | 377,922 | 1,365,710 | 1,103,323 | 92,054 | 16,434 | 100,232 |
| 2024 | 4,679,558 | 370,910 | 1,292,868 | 1,143,783 | 96,147 | 15,259 | 97,524 |
| 2023 | 4,581,041 | 402,335 | 1,263,700 | 1,212,850 | 100,015 | 11,208 | 104,369 |
| 2022 | 4,542,443 | 400,969 | 1,190,880 | 1,279,260 | 99,080 | 11,314 | 103,810 |
| 2021 | 4,489,009 | 388,311 | 1,118,015 | 1,293,770 | 108,202 | 8,858 | 98,952 |
| 2020 | 4,504,504 | 353,944 | 1,014,730 | 1,343,665 | 111,106 | 8,778 | 89,024 |
| 2019 | 4,519,999 | 319,576 | 911,445 | 1,393,560 | 114,011 | 8,697 | 79,096 |
| 2018 | 4,397,917 | 308,020 | 890,554 | 1,459,976 | 120,159 | 6,022 | 82,621 |
| 2017 | 4,339,349 | 294,973 | 867,925 | 1,496,843 | 122,088 | 5,988 | 77,386 |
| 2016 | 4,227,422 | 273,838 | 860,856 | 1,540,787 | 126,890 | 6,535 | 79,479 |
| 2015 | 4,202,413 | 265,224 | 808,370 | 1,649,860 | 141,016 | 3,120 | 78,999 |
| 2014 | 4,186,666 | 258,775 | 770,577 | 1,752,656 | 145,012 | 2,573 | 76,963 |
| 2013 | 4,074,510 | 259,367 | 764,400 | 1,802,442 | 148,422 | 2,525 | 81,841 |
| 2012 | 4,044,389 | 237,738 | 775,390 | 1,901,118 | 155,603 | 2,168 | 61,429 |
| 2011 | 4,014,222 | 222,634 | 707,016 | 1,979,067 | 143,287 | 2,728 | 63,609 |
| 2010 | 3,961,085 | 227,607 | 676,262 | 2,068,004 | 143,242 | 1,823 | 61,664 |
Heating Oil (Fuel Oil) Use in Hamilton
Fuel oil has become less popular in Hamilton. In the 8 years since 2017, the number of households using oil fell from 1,496,843 to 1,103,323, a 26% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Hamilton
Between 2017 and today, the number of homes using propane as the primary space heating fuel shot up from 294,973 to 377,922, a 28% change. Comparing 2017 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel jumped from 4,339,349 to 4,725,574, a 9% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Hamilton
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more popular in Hamilton. Since 2017, the number of homes heating with electricity shot up from 867,925 to 1,365,710, a 57% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Hamilton
Solar is the most environmentally friendly of all heating fuels. 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, 16,434 homes in Hamilton are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 174% gain from 2017, when 5,988 homes used active solar heating.
Hamilton County Heating Oil Trends
Last year, Hamilton County homeowners purchased a total of 438,054 gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
Hamilton’s overall heating oil usage changes annually based on the severity of the winter. As the temperature outside drops, homes’ heating systems need to burn more and more number two heating oil to maintain the temperature that the thermostat is set to. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Hamilton was 28.1°F, which was 5.4°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
Hamilton County Average Winter Temperature
| Heating Season | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| 2024 - 2025 | 28.1° F |
| 2023 - 2024 | 33.5° F |
Hamilton County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For Hamilton homeowners heating with fuel oil, selecting which of the 8 heating oil companies that serve Hamilton makes a big difference.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who want a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system select one of the 4 “full-service” oil companies that serve Hamilton. Full service companies such as Helmers Fuel & Trucking Inc or Raquette Lake Supply Co Inc offer families annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic number two heating oil delivery and HVAC repair. With an automatic heating oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s 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: Often called “COD Fuel” or “Cash Heating Oil” companies, discount oil companies are for families who are on a budget. With discount oil companies, in exchange for lower prices, you monitor the heating oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order when you're running low. Examples of 2 Hamilton cash heating oil companies serving Hamilton include Clark Energy LLC and Clark Energy LLC.
Hamilton Heating Oil Company Statistics: Heating oil Companies Serving Hamilton: 8 companies .
Average Number of Hamilton Houses Served per Number Two Heating Oil company : 137915
Hamilton Heating Oil Delivery Overview
1,103,323 homes in Hamilton heat their homes with fuel oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Hamilton temperatures drop as low as 22.4° F each winter. 14.2% of Hamilton residences rely on fuel oil delivery each winter.
7% of Hamilton County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| Hamilton County Households | Hamilton County Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 15.6M | 1.1M |
11 Hamilton Oil Companies You Can Bank On
With 664,748,714 gallons of number two heating oil delivered to Hamilton households the last heating season, the Hamilton community looks to its 11 oil companies when temperatures dip. Oil delivery can be summed up in two steps: First, an oil truck picks up oil at the nearest bulk fuel terminal (also known as a “rack”). In the case of Hamilton, two of the closest terminals are Sprague in Bridgeport, CT and N.h.term in New Haven, CT. Then, the truck delivers the #2 heating oil to homes and businesses throughout Hamilton and the surrounding vicinity.
