Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Hamilton Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Households have a host of fuels that can be used when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the preferred choice in Hamilton, used by 4,725,574 or 61% of homeowners. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for Hamilton residents is Electricity, used by 1,365,710 homes (18%). The remaining homes are heated with Heating Oil (14%), Propane (5%), Other (1%), and Wood (1%).
Hamilton County Residential Primary Home Heating Fuel (No. 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
Heating oil has become less popular in Hamilton. In the 7 years since 2018, the number of families using fuel oil dropped from 1,459,976 to 1,103,323, a 24% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Hamilton
Between 2018 and today, the number of homes using propane as the primary space heating fuel jumped from 308,020 to 377,922, a 23% change. Comparing 2018 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel ramped up from 4,397,917 to 4,725,574, a 7% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Hamilton
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are increasing in demand in Hamilton. Since 2018, the number of homes heating with electricity rose from 890,554 to 1,365,710, a 53% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Hamilton
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. Today, 16,434 homes in Hamilton are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 173% gain from 2018, when 6,022 homes utilized 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 use fluctuates each year based on the severity of the winter. As the temperature outside drops, homes’ furnaces need to burn additional heating oil to maintain a constant interior temperature. 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, picking which of the 8 heating oil companies that serve Hamilton makes a big difference.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who value a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system pick 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 homeowners annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic number two heating oil delivery and furnace repair. With an automatic 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 homeowners who are budget-conscious. With discount oil companies, in exchange for lower prices, you monitor the heating oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order either when the level runs low or just before a major snowstorm. Examples of 2 Hamilton cash heating oil companies serving Hamilton include Clark Energy LLC and Clark Energy LLC.
Hamilton Oil Company Statistics: Oil Companies Serving Hamilton: 8 companies .
Average Number of Hamilton Houses Served per Fuel Oil company : 137915
Hamilton Heating Oil Delivery Overview
1,103,323 residences in Hamilton heat their homes with oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Hamilton temperatures drop as low as 22.4° F each winter. 14.2% of Hamilton houses are reliant on 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 Number Two Heating Oil Companies You Can Bank On
With 664,748,714 gallons of oil delivered to Hamilton households last winter, the Hamilton community depends on its 11 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 Hamilton, two of the closest terminals are Sprague in Bridgeport, CT and N.h.term in New Haven, CT. Then, the truck delivers the number two heating oil to homes and businesses throughout Hamilton and the surrounding vicinity.
