Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Franklin Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Homeowners have a variety of fuels to choose from when it comes to heating. Heating Oil is the preferred choice in Franklin, used by 99,824 or 35% of households. The next most popular primary heating fuel for Franklin 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%).
Franklin 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 Franklin
Fuel oil has become less frequently used in Franklin. In the 13 years since 2012, the number of homeowners using number two heating oil fell from 114,708 to 99,824, a 13% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Franklin
Between 2012 and today, the number of households using propane as the primary space heating fuel jumped 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 ramped up from 41,601 to 55,373, a 33% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Franklin
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are gaining popularity in Franklin. Since 2012, the number of homes heating with electricity rose from 12,532 to 36,366, a 190% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Franklin
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. As it stands today, 1,820 homes in Franklin are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 783% gain from 2012, when 206 homes utilized active solar heating.
Franklin County Heating Oil Trends
Last year, Franklin County homeowners purchased a total of 5 million gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
Franklin’s overall fuel oil use changes annually correlating with how cold it gets each winter. As the temperature outside gets more chilly, homes’ heating systems need to burn more and more oil to keep the house warm inside. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Franklin was 20.4°F, which was 6.4°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
Franklin County Average Winter Temperature
| Heating Season | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| 2024 - 2025 | 20.4° F |
| 2023 - 2024 | 26.8° F |
Franklin County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For Franklin families heating with number two heating oil, choosing which of the 22 heating oil companies that serve Franklin plays a big role in determining how much money is spent on heating each winter.
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 0 “full-service” oil companies that serve Franklin. Full service companies such as or offer families annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic fuel oil delivery and furnace repair. With an automatic number two heating oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s heating 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 return for better prices, you monitor the number two heating oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order when the oil gauge dips below a quarter tank. Some of the 2 Franklin cash heating oil companies serving Franklin include Clarence Brown Inc and Corse Fuels.
Franklin Fuel Oil Company Statistics: Heating oil Companies Serving Franklin: 22 companies .
Average Number of Franklin Houses Served per Fuel Oil company : 4537
Franklin Heating Oil Delivery Overview
99,824 homes in Franklin heat their homes with fuel oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Franklin temperatures drop as low as 12.6° F each winter. 34.6% of Franklin families rely on number two heating oil delivery each winter.
17.2% of Franklin County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| Franklin County Households | Franklin County Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 579,101 | 99,824 |
86 Franklin Heating Oil Companies Go The Distance
With 92,108,924 gallons of fuel oil delivered to Franklin families during this past winter, the Franklin community looks to its 86 oil companies when temperatures dip. Oil delivery has two parts to it: First, an oil truck picks up oil at the nearest bulk fuel terminal (also known as a “rack”). In the case of Franklin, two of the closest terminals are Sprague in Newington, NH and Apex in Rensselaer, NY. Then, the truck delivers the oil to homes and businesses throughout Franklin and the surrounding area.
