Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Franklin 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 Franklin, used by 99,824 or 35% of families. 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 (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 Franklin
Fuel oil has become less frequently used in Franklin. In the 7 years since 2018, the number of families using fuel oil dipped from 108,961 to 99,824, a 8% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Franklin
Between 2018 and today, the number of households using propane as the primary space heating fuel rose from 44,423 to 57,954, a 30% change. Comparing 2018 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel grew from 47,328 to 55,373, a 17% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Franklin
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more prevalent in Franklin. Since 2018, the number of homes heating with electricity ramped up from 14,122 to 36,366, a 158% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Franklin
Solar is the most environmentally friendly of all heating fuels. 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 Franklin are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 122% gain from 2018, when 819 homes incorporated 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 number two heating oil consumption varies yearly primarily depending on how cold each winter is. As the temperature outside gets more chilly, homes’ heating systems need to burn increasing amounts of fuel oil to maintain the temperature that the thermostat is set to. 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 households heating with oil, selecting which of the 22 heating oil companies that serve Franklin makes a big difference.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who want a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system select one of the 0 “full-service” oil companies that serve Franklin. Full service companies such as or offer homeowners annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic fuel oil delivery and boiler repair. With an automatic fuel oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s number two 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 referred to as “COD Fuel” or “Cash Heating Oil” companies, discount oil companies are for families who are on a budget. With discount oil companies, in exchange for lower prices, you monitor the oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order when the oil gauge dips below a quarter tank. Examples of 2 Franklin cash heating oil companies serving Franklin include Clarence Brown Inc and Corse Fuels.
Franklin Fuel Oil Company Fast Facts: Heating oil Companies Serving Franklin: 22 companies .
Average Number of Franklin Homes Served per Number Two Heating Oil company : 4537
Franklin Heating Oil Delivery Overview
99,824 residences in Franklin heat their homes with number two heating oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Franklin temperatures drop as low as 12.6° F each winter. 34.6% of Franklin homes are reliant 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 Oil Companies Serving The Community
With 92,108,924 gallons of number two heating oil delivered to Franklin homes the last heating season, the Franklin community depends on its 86 oil companies to keep warm throughout the winter. 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 fuel oil to residences and companies throughout Franklin and the surrounding region.
