Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Chittenden Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Residences have a variety of fuels to choose from when it comes to heating. Heating Oil is the preferred choice in Chittenden, used by 99,824 or 35% of households. The next most popular primary heating fuel for Chittenden residents 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%).
Chittenden 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 Chittenden
Oil has become less popular in Chittenden. In the 13 years since 2012, the number of families using fuel oil dropped from 114,708 to 99,824, a 13% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Chittenden
Between 2012 and today, the number of homes using propane as the primary space heating fuel grew from 38,497 to 57,954, a 51% change. Comparing 2012 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel grew from 41,601 to 55,373, a 33% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Chittenden
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more prevalent in Chittenden. Since 2012, the number of homes heating with electricity grew from 12,532 to 36,366, a 190% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Chittenden
Out of all fuels, solar is the safest for the environment. 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. Currently, 1,820 homes in Chittenden are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 783% gain from 2012, when 206 homes utilized active solar heating.
Chittenden County Heating Oil Trends
Last year, Chittenden County homeowners purchased a total of 9 million gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
Chittenden’s overall number two heating oil consumption changes from year to year primarily depending on how cold each winter is. As the temperature outside drops, homes’ heating systems need to burn additional number two heating oil to maintain a constant interior temperature. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Chittenden was 20.4°F, which was 6.4°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
Chittenden County Average Winter Temperature
| Heating Season | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| 2024 - 2025 | 20.4° F |
| 2023 - 2024 | 26.8° F |
Chittenden County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For Chittenden homeowners heating with fuel oil, choosing which of the 23 heating oil companies that serve Chittenden plays a big role in determining how much money is spent on heating each winter.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who value a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system choose one of the 0 “full-service” oil companies that serve Chittenden. Full service companies such as or offer families annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic oil delivery and HVAC repair. With an automatic heating oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s fuel oil consumption and makes deliveries when your tank is running low. The family 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 heating oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order when you're running low. Some of the 2 Chittenden cash heating oil companies serving Chittenden include Robinson's Inc and All Star Fuels LLC.
Chittenden Heating Oil Company Fast Facts: Number two heating oil Companies Serving Chittenden: 23 companies .
Average Number of Chittenden Households Served per Fuel Oil company : 4340
Chittenden Heating Oil Delivery Overview
99,824 houses in Chittenden heat their homes with fuel oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Chittenden temperatures drop as low as 12.6° F each winter. 34.6% of Chittenden families depend on oil delivery each winter.
17.2% of Chittenden County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| Chittenden County Households | Chittenden County Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 579,101 | 99,824 |
286 Chittenden Fuel Oil Companies You Can Trust
With 92,108,924 gallons of fuel oil delivered to Chittenden houses the last heating season, the Chittenden community looks to its 286 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 Chittenden, 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 Chittenden and the surrounding vicinity.
