Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Caledonia Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Households have a choice of fuels to choose from when it comes to heating. Heating Oil is the most common choice in Caledonia, used by 99,824 or 35% of homeowners. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for Caledonia residents is Propane, used by 57,954 homes (20%). The remaining homes are heated with Natural Gas (19%), Electricity (13%), Wood (11%), and Other (2%).
Caledonia County Residential Primary Home Heating Fuel (No. 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 Caledonia
Oil has become less popular in Caledonia. In the 1 years since 2024, the number of households using number two heating oil declined from 101,281 to 99,824, a 1% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Caledonia
Between 2024 and today, the number of homes using propane as the primary space heating fuel shot up from 56,523 to 57,954, a 3% change. Comparing 2024 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel decreased from 56,646 to 55,373, a 2% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Caledonia
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are increasing in demand in Caledonia. Since 2024, the number of homes heating with electricity jumped from 33,651 to 36,366, a 8% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Caledonia
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. Now, 1,820 homes in Caledonia are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 10% gain from 2024, when 1,660 homes used active solar heating.
Caledonia County Heating Oil Trends
Last year, Caledonia County homeowners purchased a total of 241,098 gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
Caledonia’s overall oil use changes from year to year primarily depending on how cold each winter is. As the temperature outside gets more chilly, homes’ heating systems need to burn additional heating oil to maintain a constant interior temperature. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Caledonia was 20.4°F, which was 6.4°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
Caledonia County Average Winter Temperature
| Heating Season | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| 2024 - 2025 | 20.4° F |
| 2023 - 2024 | 26.8° F |
Caledonia County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For Caledonia families heating with heating oil, selecting which of the 4 heating oil companies that serve Caledonia can drastically impact the cost of home heating.
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 Caledonia. Full service companies such as Packard Fuels or Packard Fuels offer families annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic oil delivery and boiler 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: Often called “COD Fuel” or “Cash Heating Oil” companies, discount oil companies are for customers who are looking to save money. With discount oil companies, in return for better prices, you monitor the fuel oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order either when the level runs low or just before a major snowstorm. Some of the 2 Caledonia cash heating oil companies serving Caledonia include Vermont Fuel Efficiency and Packard Fuels LLC.
Caledonia Heating Oil Company Statistics: Heating oil Companies Serving Caledonia: 4 companies .
Average Number of Caledonia Homes Served per Fuel Oil company : 24956
Caledonia Heating Oil Delivery Overview
99,824 households in Caledonia heat their homes with oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Caledonia temperatures drop as low as 12.6° F each winter. 34.6% of Caledonia residences are reliant on heating oil delivery each winter.
17.2% of Caledonia County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| Caledonia County Households | Caledonia County Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 579,101 | 99,824 |
8 Caledonia Number Two Heating Oil Companies You Can Trust
With 92,108,924 gallons of heating oil delivered to Caledonia families the last heating season, the Caledonia community relies on its 8 oil companies to keep warm throughout the winter. 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 Caledonia, two of the closest terminals are Sprague in Newington, NH and Apex in Rensselaer, NY. Then, the truck delivers the number two heating oil to homes and businesses throughout Caledonia and the surrounding area.
