Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: York Home Heating Fuel Comparison

Households have a host of fuels that can be used when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the most popular choice in York, used by 2,796,352 or 52% of homeowners. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for York residents is Electricity, used by 1,447,260 homes (27%). The other homes are heated with Heating Oil (12%), Propane (5%), Wood (2%), and Coal (1%).

York 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 York

Heating oil has become less frequently used in York. In the 10 years since 2015, the number of households using number two heating oil declined from 837,082 to 663,450, a 21% drop.

Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in York

Between 2015 and today, the number of households using propane as the primary space heating fuel jumped from 200,754 to 282,182, a 41% change. Comparing 2015 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel shot up from 2,549,385 to 2,796,352, a 10% change.

Electricity use for home heating in York

Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more popular in York. Since 2015, the number of homes heating with electricity ramped up from 1,103,995 to 1,447,260, a 31% change.

Adoption of solar home heating systems in York

The most eco-friendly heating option is solar. 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, 7,204 homes in York are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 240% gain from 2015, when 2,117 homes incorporated active solar heating.

York County Heating Oil Trends

Last year, York County homeowners purchased a total of 14 million gallons of heating oil.

Short Term Trends

York’s overall number two heating oil usage changes from year to year correlating with how cold it gets each winter. As the temperature outside gets colder, homes’ boilers need to burn more and more fuel oil to maintain the temperature that the thermostat is set to. Last winter, the average outside temperature in York was 29.3°F, which was 5.5°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.

York County Average Winter Temperature

Heating Season	Average Temperature
2024 - 2025	29.3° F
2023 - 2024	34.8° F

York County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company

For York homeowners heating with fuel oil, choosing which of the 23 heating oil companies that serve York is an important decision.

Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who want a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system select one of the 127 “full-service” oil companies that serve York. Full service companies such as Aero Energy or Smart Touch Energy offer households annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic fuel 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 customer 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 looking to save money. With discount oil companies, in return for better prices, you monitor the 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 York cash heating oil companies serving York include Town & Country Fuel LLC and Edris Oil Service Inc.

York Number Two Heating Oil Company By The Numbers: Fuel oil Companies Serving York: 23 companies .
Average Number of York Houses Served per Heating Oil company : 28846

York Heating Oil Delivery Overview

663,450 houses in York heat their homes with oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when York temperatures drop as low as 23.2° F each winter. 12.3% of York homes are reliant on oil delivery each winter.

6.1% of York County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter

York County Households	York County Heating Oil Households
10.7M	663,450

228 York Heating Oil Companies You Can Bank On

With 507,486,889 gallons of heating oil delivered to York houses the last heating season, the York community depends on its 228 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 York, two of the closest terminals are Ergon in Newell, PA and Etmt in Blawnox, PA. Then, the truck delivers the fuel oil to homes and businesses throughout York and the surrounding area.