Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Kent Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Homeowners have a variety of fuels to choose from when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the most common choice in Kent, used by 235,913 or 53% of families. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for Kent families is Heating Oil, used by 108,766 homes (24%). The rest of the homes are heated with Electricity (16%), Propane (6%), Other (1%), and Wood (1%).
Kent County Residential Primary Home Heating Fuel (No. of Households)
| Year | Natural Gas | Propane | Electricity | Oil | Wood | Solar | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 235,913 | 24,676 | 70,606 | 108,766 | 3,474 | 1,046 | 3,562 |
| 2024 | 239,478 | 21,922 | 63,619 | 113,718 | 3,280 | 896 | 3,236 |
| 2023 | 225,315 | 26,362 | 64,872 | 117,298 | 4,970 | 781 | 2,523 |
| 2022 | 240,848 | 21,720 | 60,798 | 112,289 | 4,812 | 686 | 3,106 |
| 2021 | 232,445 | 20,854 | 50,898 | 127,202 | 4,581 | 482 | 1,870 |
| 2020 | 228,782 | 17,674 | 46,340 | 121,808 | 5,244 | 362 | 2,025 |
| 2019 | 225,120 | 14,493 | 41,783 | 116,413 | 5,906 | 243 | 2,180 |
| 2018 | 226,173 | 11,618 | 41,491 | 117,880 | 4,634 | 313 | 2,687 |
| 2017 | 216,466 | 12,165 | 43,380 | 126,191 | 5,952 | 47 | 2,845 |
| 2016 | 221,544 | 10,488 | 43,722 | 122,343 | 6,219 | 290 | 2,140 |
| 2015 | 216,129 | 11,955 | 43,085 | 124,029 | 7,228 | 0 | 3,101 |
| 2014 | 217,810 | 11,457 | 39,832 | 129,877 | 7,318 | 0 | 2,159 |
| 2013 | 212,545 | 10,035 | 39,215 | 132,486 | 8,547 | 185 | 1,769 |
| 2012 | 208,173 | 10,361 | 38,606 | 144,208 | 7,592 | 204 | 2,165 |
| 2011 | 209,106 | 7,816 | 34,511 | 151,784 | 5,860 | 75 | 1,590 |
| 2010 | 197,703 | 7,793 | 35,706 | 151,847 | 7,084 | 0 | 814 |
Heating Oil (Fuel Oil) Use in Kent
Number two heating oil has become losing popularity in Kent. In the 5 years since 2020, the number of residents using heating oil decreased from 121,808 to 108,766, a 11% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Kent
Between 2020 and today, the number of houses using propane as the primary space heating fuel increased from 17,674 to 24,676, a 40% change. Comparing 2020 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel shot up from 228,782 to 235,913, a 3% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Kent
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more popular in Kent. Since 2020, the number of homes heating with electricity shot up from 46,340 to 70,606, a 52% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Kent
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, 1,046 homes in Kent are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 189% gain from 2020, when 362 homes utilized active solar heating.
Kent County Heating Oil Trends
Last year, Kent County homeowners purchased a total of 17 million gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
Kent’s overall oil use changes from year to year based on the severity of the winter. As the temperature outside gets more chilly, homes’ heating systems need to burn increasing amounts of number two heating oil to maintain a constant interior temperature. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Kent was 32.1°F, which was 3.9°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
Kent County Average Winter Temperature
| Heating Season | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| 2024 - 2025 | 32.1° F |
| 2023 - 2024 | 36° F |
Kent County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For Kent homes heating with fuel oil, choosing which of the 46 heating oil companies that serve Kent 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 45 “full-service” oil companies that serve Kent. Full service companies such as Micheletti Oil Services or Reichert & Sons Fuel Oil offer families annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic number two heating oil delivery and HVAC repair. With an automatic number two heating 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 referred to as “COD Fuel” or “Cash Heating Oil” companies, discount oil companies are for families who are looking to save money. With discount oil companies, in return for better prices, you monitor the number two heating oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order when you're running low. Examples of 2 Kent cash heating oil companies serving Kent include Anthony's Oil LLC and MATHEWS OIL CO.
Kent Heating Oil Company Statistics: Fuel oil Companies Serving Kent: 46 companies .
Average Number of Kent Houses Served per Number Two Heating Oil company : 2364
Kent Heating Oil Delivery Overview
108,766 families in Kent heat their homes with oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Kent temperatures drop as low as 26.7° F each winter. 24.3% of Kent houses depend on fuel oil delivery each winter.
12.1% of Kent County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| Kent County Households | Kent County Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 898,380 | 108,766 |
180 Kent Oil Companies Serving The Community
With 91,890,913 gallons of fuel oil delivered to Kent homeowners last winter, the Kent community depends on its 180 oil companies when temperatures dip. 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 Kent, two of the closest terminals are Shell in Providence, RI and Sprague in Providence, RI. Then, the truck delivers the fuel oil to residences and companies throughout Kent and the surrounding region.
