Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Lamoille 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 Lamoille, used by 99,824 or 35% of residents. The next most popular primary heating fuel for Lamoille families is Propane, used by 57,954 homes (20%). The other homes are heated with Natural Gas (19%), Electricity (13%), Wood (11%), and Other (2%).
Lamoille 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 Lamoille
Number two heating oil has become less frequently used in Lamoille. In the 11 years since 2014, the number of residents using heating oil decreased from 115,387 to 99,824, a 13% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Lamoille
Between 2014 and today, the number of homes using propane as the primary space heating fuel jumped from 38,116 to 57,954, a 52% change. Comparing 2014 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel ramped up from 43,091 to 55,373, a 29% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Lamoille
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more prevalent in Lamoille. Since 2014, the number of homes heating with electricity shot up from 11,250 to 36,366, a 223% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Lamoille
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. As it stands today, 1,820 homes in Lamoille are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 917% gain from 2014, when 179 homes utilized active solar heating.
Lamoille County Heating Oil Trends
Last year, Lamoille County homeowners purchased a total of 4 million gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
Lamoille’s overall heating oil usage fluctuates each year based on the severity of the winter. As the temperature outside gets colder, homes’ boilers need to burn additional oil to maintain a constant interior temperature. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Lamoille was 20.4°F, which was 6.4°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
Lamoille County Average Winter Temperature
| Heating Season | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| 2024 - 2025 | 20.4° F |
| 2023 - 2024 | 26.8° F |
Lamoille County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For Lamoille residences heating with fuel oil, selecting which of the 16 heating oil companies that serve Lamoille is an important decision.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who prefer a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system select one of the 0 “full-service” oil companies that serve Lamoille. Full service companies such as or offer clients 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 known by the names “COD Fuel” or “Cash Heating Oil” companies, discount oil companies are for customers 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 Lamoille cash heating oil companies serving Lamoille include Corse Fuels and Oil Supply Corp.
Lamoille Fuel Oil Company Statistics: Fuel oil Companies Serving Lamoille: 16 companies .
Average Number of Lamoille Households Served per Number Two Heating Oil company : 6239
Lamoille Heating Oil Delivery Overview
99,824 homes in Lamoille heat their homes with oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Lamoille temperatures drop as low as 12.6° F each winter. 34.6% of Lamoille homes rely on oil delivery each winter.
17.2% of Lamoille County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| Lamoille County Households | Lamoille County Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 579,101 | 99,824 |
59 Lamoille Heating Oil Companies Go The Distance
With 92,108,924 gallons of number two heating oil delivered to Lamoille residences last winter, the Lamoille community depends on its 59 oil companies when temperatures dip. 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 Lamoille, 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 Lamoille and the surrounding area.
