Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Bennington Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Homeowners have a choice of fuels to choose from when it comes to heating. Heating Oil is the most popular choice in Bennington, used by 99,824 or 35% of households. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for Bennington homeowners is Propane, used by 57,954 homes (20%). The rest of the homes are heated with Natural Gas (19%), Electricity (13%), Wood (11%), and Other (2%).
Bennington County Residential Primary Home Heating Fuel (in Number of Households)
| Year | Natural Gas | Propane | Electricity | Oil | Wood | Solar | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 55,373 | 57,954 | 36,366 | 99,824 | 33,030 | 1,820 | 4,366 |
| 2024 | 56,646 | 56,523 | 33,651 | 101,281 | 30,344 | 1,660 | 4,241 |
| 2023 | 48,131 | 54,853 | 27,940 | 102,091 | 38,497 | 1,670 | 4,784 |
| 2022 | 50,240 | 51,520 | 24,105 | 105,894 | 36,184 | 1,106 | 6,886 |
| 2021 | 50,677 | 51,992 | 22,510 | 105,005 | 33,125 | 1,349 | 4,533 |
| 2020 | 49,752 | 50,131 | 19,616 | 106,832 | 33,799 | 948 | 4,630 |
| 2019 | 48,826 | 48,270 | 16,723 | 108,658 | 34,473 | 547 | 4,727 |
| 2018 | 47,328 | 44,423 | 14,122 | 108,961 | 40,731 | 819 | 3,930 |
| 2017 | 47,036 | 43,339 | 14,035 | 107,395 | 38,840 | 612 | 3,997 |
| 2016 | 46,388 | 42,621 | 14,097 | 106,498 | 39,455 | 571 | 3,822 |
| 2015 | 45,256 | 40,280 | 12,610 | 108,532 | 42,271 | 263 | 4,298 |
| 2014 | 43,091 | 38,116 | 11,250 | 115,387 | 43,828 | 179 | 4,258 |
| 2013 | 42,192 | 38,339 | 11,779 | 111,011 | 44,411 | 257 | 3,630 |
| 2012 | 41,601 | 38,497 | 12,532 | 114,708 | 46,051 | 206 | 3,749 |
| 2011 | 39,163 | 39,551 | 10,855 | 122,786 | 41,261 | 98 | 2,834 |
| 2010 | 41,357 | 35,529 | 13,667 | 122,832 | 38,777 | 122 | 3,182 |
Heating Oil (Fuel Oil) Use in Bennington
Heating oil has become less popular in Bennington. In the 2 years since 2023, the number of households using number two heating oil decreased from 102,091 to 99,824, a 2% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Bennington
Between 2023 and today, the number of houses using propane as the primary space heating fuel jumped from 54,853 to 57,954, a 6% change. Comparing 2023 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel increased from 48,131 to 55,373, a 15% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Bennington
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are gaining popularity in Bennington. Since 2023, the number of homes heating with electricity grew from 27,940 to 36,366, a 30% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Bennington
Solar is the most environmentally friendly of all heating fuels. 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, 1,820 homes in Bennington are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 9% gain from 2023, when 1,670 homes had active solar heating.
Bennington County Heating Oil Trends
Last year, Bennington County homeowners purchased a total of 4 million gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
Bennington’s overall number two heating oil use changes each year as winter conditions change. As the temperature outside dips, homes’ furnaces need to burn additional number two heating oil to keep the house warm inside. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Bennington was 20.4°F, which was 6.4°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
Bennington County Average Winter Temperature
| Heating Season | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| 2024 - 2025 | 20.4° F |
| 2023 - 2024 | 26.8° F |
Bennington County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For Bennington households heating with heating oil, selecting which of the 2 heating oil companies that serve Bennington 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 pick one of the 2 “full-service” oil companies that serve Bennington. Full service companies such as Morse Fuels LLC or Davey Oil Inc offer customers annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic oil delivery and HVAC 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 homeowner 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 homeowners who are on a budget. With discount oil companies, in exchange for lower prices, you monitor the number two heating oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order when you're running low. Some of the 0 Bennington cash heating oil companies serving Bennington include and .
Bennington Oil Company Fast Facts: Oil Companies Serving Bennington: 2 companies .
Average Number of Bennington Houses Served per Number Two Heating Oil company : 49912
Bennington Heating Oil Delivery Overview
99,824 families in Bennington heat their homes with fuel oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Bennington temperatures drop as low as 12.6° F each winter. 34.6% of Bennington households are reliant on fuel oil delivery each winter.
17.2% of Bennington County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| Bennington County Households | Bennington County Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 579,101 | 99,824 |
2 Bennington Oil Companies Serving The Community
With 92,108,924 gallons of oil delivered to Bennington houses last winter, the Bennington community depends on its 2 oil companies to keep their oil tanks full. Oil delivery is a two step process: First, an oil truck picks up oil at the nearest bulk fuel terminal (also known as a “rack”). In the case of Bennington, two of the closest terminals are Sprague in Newington, NH and Apex in Rensselaer, NY. Then, the truck delivers the #2 heating oil to residences and companies throughout Bennington and the surrounding area.
