Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Kent Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Residences have a choice of fuels that can be used when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the preferred choice in Kent, used by 235,913 or 53% of residents. The next most popular primary heating fuel for Kent households 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
Oil has become less frequently used in Kent. In the 1 years since 2024, the number of households using oil dipped from 113,718 to 108,766, a 4% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Kent
Between 2024 and today, the number of households using propane as the primary space heating fuel shot up from 21,922 to 24,676, a 13% change. Comparing 2024 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel decreased from 239,478 to 235,913, a 1% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Kent
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are increasing in demand in Kent. Since 2024, the number of homes heating with electricity increased from 63,619 to 70,606, a 11% 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. Today, 1,046 homes in Kent are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 17% gain from 2024, when 896 homes incorporated 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 number two heating oil usage changes from year to year correlating with how cold it gets each winter. As the temperature outside gets more chilly, homes’ boilers need to burn more and more heating oil to maintain the temperature that the thermostat is set to. 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 homeowners heating with oil, selecting which of the 46 heating oil companies that serve Kent makes a big difference.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who can afford 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 customers annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic fuel 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 household 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 households who are budget-conscious. 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 either when the level runs low or just before a major snowstorm. Examples of 2 Kent cash heating oil companies serving Kent include Anthony's Oil LLC and MATHEWS OIL CO.
Kent Fuel Oil Company By The Numbers: Oil Companies Serving Kent: 46 companies .
Average Number of Kent Houses Served per Fuel Oil company : 2364
Kent Heating Oil Delivery Overview
108,766 households 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 homes 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 Heating Oil Companies You Can Trust
With 91,890,913 gallons of heating oil delivered to Kent residences last winter, the Kent community relies on its 180 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 Kent, two of the closest terminals are Shell in Providence, RI and Sprague in Providence, RI. Then, the truck delivers the number two heating oil to residences and companies throughout Kent and the surrounding area.
