Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Hamilton Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Homes have a choice of fuels that can be used when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the most popular choice in Hamilton, used by 4,725,574 or 61% of residents. The next most popular primary heating fuel for Hamilton homeowners 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 (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 residents using heating 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 increased 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 increased 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 increasing in demand in Hamilton. Since 2017, the number of homes heating with electricity rose 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 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, 16,434 homes in Hamilton are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 174% gain from 2017, when 5,988 homes had 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 fuel oil usage fluctuates each year correlating with how cold it gets each winter. As the temperature outside gets more chilly, homes’ boilers need to burn additional 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 residences heating with heating oil, selecting which of the 8 heating oil companies that serve Hamilton can drastically impact the cost of home heating.
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 households annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic heating oil delivery and boiler repair. With an automatic fuel oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s fuel oil consumption and makes deliveries when your tank is running low. The homeowner 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 households who are on a budget. With discount oil companies, in return for better 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. Some of the 2 Hamilton cash heating oil companies serving Hamilton include Clark Energy LLC and Clark Energy LLC.
Hamilton Number Two Heating Oil Company Fast Facts: Heating oil Companies Serving Hamilton: 8 companies .
Average Number of Hamilton Households Served per Fuel Oil company : 137915
Hamilton Heating Oil Delivery Overview
1,103,323 families in Hamilton heat their homes with number two heating oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Hamilton temperatures drop as low as 22.4° F each winter. 14.2% of Hamilton families depend 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 Go The Distance
With 664,748,714 gallons of number two heating oil delivered to Hamilton homeowners during this past winter, the Hamilton community looks to its 11 oil companies when temperatures dip. 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 #2 heating oil to residences and companies throughout Hamilton and the surrounding vicinity.
