Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: York Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Homes 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 families. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for York homeowners 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%).
York County Residential Primary Home Heating Fuel (No. 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
Fuel oil has become less frequently used in York. In the 6 years since 2019, the number of homeowners using heating oil decreased from 792,365 to 663,450, a 16% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in York
Between 2019 and today, the number of households using propane as the primary space heating fuel shot up from 235,490 to 282,182, a 20% change. Comparing 2019 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel rose from 2,634,591 to 2,796,352, a 6% change.
Electricity use for home heating in York
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are gaining popularity in York. Since 2019, the number of homes heating with electricity grew from 1,222,377 to 1,447,260, a 18% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in York
The most eco-friendly heating option is solar. 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 York are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 70% gain from 2019, when 4,241 homes used 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 oil consumption fluctuates yearly based on the severity of the winter. As the temperature outside dips, homes’ heating systems need to burn more and more heating oil to keep the house warm inside. 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 homes heating with number two heating oil, selecting which of the 23 heating oil companies that serve York plays a big role in determining how much money is spent on heating each winter.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who want a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system choose one of the 127 “full-service” oil companies that serve York. Full service companies such as Aero Energy or Smart Touch Energy offer customers annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic oil delivery and heating system repair. With an automatic oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s oil consumption and makes deliveries when your tank is running low. The client does not need to monitor the level of the oil tank or place individual orders.
Discount Oil Companies: Also known by the names “COD Fuel” or “Cash Heating Oil” companies, discount oil companies are for customers 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 when you're running low. Examples of 2 York cash heating oil companies serving York include Town & Country Fuel LLC and Edris Oil Service Inc.
York Oil Company Statistics: 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 homes in York heat their homes with heating oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when York temperatures drop as low as 23.2° F each winter. 12.3% of York houses 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 Trust
With 507,486,889 gallons of oil delivered to York households during this past winter, the York community relies on its 228 oil companies to keep their oil tanks full. 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 York, two of the closest terminals are Ergon in Newell, PA and Etmt in Blawnox, PA. Then, the truck delivers the oil to residences and companies throughout York and the surrounding vicinity.
