Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Caledonia Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Residences have a choice of fuels that can be used when it comes to heating. Heating Oil is the most popular choice in Caledonia, used by 99,824 or 35% of households. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for Caledonia homeowners 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 (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
Heating oil has become less frequently used in Caledonia. In the 10 years since 2015, the number of families using oil dipped from 108,532 to 99,824, a 8% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Caledonia
Between 2015 and today, the number of households using propane as the primary space heating fuel ramped up from 40,280 to 57,954, a 44% change. Comparing 2015 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel jumped from 45,256 to 55,373, a 22% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Caledonia
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are increasing in demand in Caledonia. Since 2015, the number of homes heating with electricity grew from 12,610 to 36,366, a 188% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Caledonia
Solar is the most environmentally friendly of all heating fuels. 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. Now, 1,820 homes in Caledonia are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 592% gain from 2015, when 263 homes incorporated 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 fuel oil use fluctuates annually primarily depending on how cold each winter is. As the temperature outside gets more chilly, homes’ boilers need to burn additional 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 heating oil, picking which of the 4 heating oil companies that serve Caledonia can drastically impact the cost of home heating.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who are willing to pay a premium for a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system choose one of the 2 “full-service” oil companies that serve Caledonia. Full service companies such as Packard Fuels or Packard Fuels offer households annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic heating oil delivery and furnace repair. With an automatic oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s heating 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 families who are budget-conscious. With discount oil companies, in return for better prices, you monitor the oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order when the oil gauge dips below a quarter tank. Some of the 2 Caledonia cash heating oil companies serving Caledonia include Vermont Fuel Efficiency and Packard Fuels LLC.
Caledonia Oil Company By The Numbers: Fuel oil Companies Serving Caledonia: 4 companies .
Average Number of Caledonia Houses Served per Fuel Oil company : 24956
Caledonia Heating Oil Delivery Overview
99,824 homes in Caledonia heat their homes with number two heating oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Caledonia temperatures drop as low as 12.6° F each winter. 34.6% of Caledonia houses are reliant on 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 Oil Companies Homeowners Can Count On
With 92,108,924 gallons of oil delivered to Caledonia families last winter, the Caledonia community relies on its 8 oil companies to keep warm throughout the winter. 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 number two heating oil to residences and companies throughout Caledonia and the surrounding area.
