Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Caledonia Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Homes have a variety of fuels to choose from when it comes to heating. Heating Oil is the preferred choice in Caledonia, used by 99,824 or 35% of families. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for Caledonia residents is Propane, used by 57,954 homes (20%). The other homes are heated with Natural Gas (19%), Electricity (13%), Wood (11%), and Other (2%).
Caledonia 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 Caledonia
Oil has become losing popularity in Caledonia. In the 6 years since 2019, the number of residents using fuel oil dipped from 108,658 to 99,824, a 8% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Caledonia
Between 2019 and today, the number of homes using propane as the primary space heating fuel ramped up from 48,270 to 57,954, a 20% change. Comparing 2019 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel ramped up from 48,826 to 55,373, a 13% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Caledonia
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more prevalent in Caledonia. Since 2019, the number of homes heating with electricity shot up from 16,723 to 36,366, a 117% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Caledonia
Out of all fuels, solar is the safest for the environment. 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 233% gain from 2019, when 547 homes had 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 number two heating oil consumption varies annually correlating with how cold it gets each winter. As the temperature outside gets colder, homes’ boilers need to burn more and more heating oil to keep the house warm inside. 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 residences heating with oil, picking which of the 4 heating oil companies that serve Caledonia makes a big difference.
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 customers annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic heating oil delivery and HVAC repair. With an automatic number two heating oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s fuel 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 homeowners 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. Some of the 2 Caledonia cash heating oil companies serving Caledonia include Vermont Fuel Efficiency and Packard Fuels LLC.
Caledonia Number Two Heating Oil Company Fast Facts: Oil Companies Serving Caledonia: 4 companies .
Average Number of Caledonia Houses Served per Number Two Heating Oil company : 24956
Caledonia Heating Oil Delivery Overview
99,824 residences in Caledonia heat their homes with fuel 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 fuel 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 Fuel Oil Companies Go The Distance
With 92,108,924 gallons of heating oil delivered to Caledonia residences the last heating season, the Caledonia community depends on its 8 oil companies when temperatures dip. 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 Caledonia, two of the closest terminals are Sprague in Newington, NH and Apex in Rensselaer, NY. Then, the truck delivers the oil to residences and companies throughout Caledonia and the surrounding region.
