Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Bradford Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Families have a choice of fuels that can be used when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the most common choice in Bradford, used by 2,796,352 or 52% of families. The next most popular primary heating fuel for Bradford families is Electricity, used by 1,447,260 homes (27%). The remaining homes are heated with Heating Oil (12%), Propane (5%), Wood (2%), and Coal (1%).
Bradford County Residential Primary Home Heating Fuel (in Number of Households)
| Year | Natural Gas | Propane | Electricity | Oil | Wood | Solar | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2,796,352 | 282,182 | 1,447,260 | 663,450 | 112,270 | 7,204 | 31,146 |
| 2024 | 2,785,913 | 276,598 | 1,396,275 | 685,083 | 111,416 | 6,155 | 32,085 |
| 2023 | 2,698,411 | 278,621 | 1,389,291 | 717,601 | 111,540 | 6,964 | 44,558 |
| 2022 | 2,710,114 | 282,625 | 1,337,240 | 742,118 | 105,147 | 5,282 | 41,959 |
| 2021 | 2,677,533 | 267,454 | 1,287,322 | 760,867 | 109,832 | 4,867 | 46,436 |
| 2020 | 2,656,062 | 251,472 | 1,254,850 | 776,616 | 113,900 | 4,554 | 41,326 |
| 2019 | 2,634,591 | 235,490 | 1,222,377 | 792,365 | 117,969 | 4,241 | 36,216 |
| 2018 | 2,592,386 | 225,476 | 1,198,450 | 806,761 | 128,110 | 2,197 | 35,172 |
| 2017 | 2,598,275 | 222,650 | 1,158,937 | 790,353 | 127,198 | 2,225 | 35,586 |
| 2016 | 2,551,248 | 209,719 | 1,133,797 | 805,822 | 125,583 | 1,639 | 34,565 |
| 2015 | 2,549,385 | 200,754 | 1,103,995 | 837,082 | 141,835 | 2,117 | 38,034 |
| 2014 | 2,528,694 | 198,296 | 1,087,741 | 858,758 | 148,256 | 1,760 | 36,886 |
| 2013 | 2,516,052 | 195,799 | 1,086,074 | 870,064 | 148,597 | 1,408 | 33,941 |
| 2012 | 2,530,063 | 188,880 | 1,046,982 | 936,674 | 145,089 | 1,484 | 31,494 |
| 2011 | 2,516,883 | 178,387 | 1,019,764 | 973,749 | 137,625 | 1,545 | 28,259 |
| 2010 | 2,530,446 | 177,562 | 997,925 | 993,832 | 126,074 | 597 | 29,423 |
Heating Oil (Fuel Oil) Use in Bradford
Heating oil has become less frequently used in Bradford. In the 3 years since 2022, the number of homeowners using oil fell from 742,118 to 663,450, a 11% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Bradford
Between 2022 and today, the number of households using propane as the primary space heating fuel remained stable at 282,182, a 0% change. Comparing 2022 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel shot up from 2,710,114 to 2,796,352, a 3% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Bradford
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are increasing in demand in Bradford. Since 2022, the number of homes heating with electricity grew from 1,337,240 to 1,447,260, a 8% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Bradford
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. Currently, 7,204 homes in Bradford are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 36% gain from 2022, when 5,282 homes used active solar heating.
Bradford County Heating Oil Trends
Last year, Bradford County homeowners purchased a total of 653,032 gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
Bradford’s overall oil consumption changes annually depending on winter temperatures. As the temperature outside gets colder, homes’ furnaces need to burn additional heating oil to maintain the temperature that the thermostat is set to. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Bradford was 29.3°F, which was 5.5°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
Bradford County Average Winter Temperature
| Heating Season | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| 2024 - 2025 | 29.3° F |
| 2023 - 2024 | 34.8° F |
Bradford County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For Bradford households heating with heating oil, choosing which of the 3 heating oil companies that serve Bradford can drastically impact the cost of home heating.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who value a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system select one of the 0 “full-service” oil companies that serve Bradford. Full service companies such as or offer households annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic fuel oil delivery and HVAC repair. With an automatic fuel 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: Often called “COD Fuel” or “Cash Heating Oil” companies, discount oil companies are for customers who are budget-conscious. With discount oil companies, in return for better prices, you monitor the heating oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order when you're running low. A few of the 2 Bradford cash heating oil companies serving Bradford include Flynn Energy Transport and Hinds Online Discount.
Bradford Heating Oil Company By The Numbers: Fuel oil Companies Serving Bradford: 3 companies .
Average Number of Bradford Houses Served per Number Two Heating Oil company : 221150
Bradford Heating Oil Delivery Overview
663,450 households in Bradford heat their homes with oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Bradford temperatures drop as low as 23.2° F each winter. 12.3% of Bradford households rely on fuel oil delivery each winter.
6.1% of Bradford County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| Bradford County Households | Bradford County Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 10.7M | 663,450 |
7 Bradford Heating Oil Companies You Can Trust
With 507,486,889 gallons of number two heating oil delivered to Bradford residences during this past winter, the Bradford community depends on its 7 oil companies to keep warm throughout the winter. 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 Bradford, two of the closest terminals are Ergon in Newell, PA and Etmt in Blawnox, PA. Then, the truck delivers the number two heating oil to residences and companies throughout Bradford and the surrounding vicinity.
