Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Windham Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Households have a host of fuels that can be used when it comes to heating. Heating Oil is the most popular choice in Windham, used by 99,824 or 35% of families. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for Windham families is Propane, used by 57,954 homes (20%). The remaining homes are heated with Natural Gas (19%), Electricity (13%), Wood (11%), and Other (2%).
Windham 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 Windham
Oil has become decreasing in demand in Windham. In the 6 years since 2019, the number of residents using number two heating oil decreased from 108,658 to 99,824, a 8% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Windham
Between 2019 and today, the number of households using propane as the primary space heating fuel jumped from 48,270 to 57,954, a 20% change. Comparing 2019 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel increased from 48,826 to 55,373, a 13% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Windham
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more popular in Windham. Since 2019, the number of homes heating with electricity jumped from 16,723 to 36,366, a 117% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Windham
The most eco-friendly heating option is solar. 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 Windham are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 233% gain from 2019, when 547 homes used active solar heating.
Windham County Heating Oil Trends
Last year, Windham County homeowners purchased a total of 6 million gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
Windham’s overall number two heating oil usage varies from year to year depending on winter temperatures. As the temperature outside gets colder, homes’ HVAC systems need to burn additional fuel oil to keep the house warm inside. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Windham was 20.4°F, which was 6.4°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
Windham County Average Winter Temperature
| Heating Season | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| 2024 - 2025 | 20.4° F |
| 2023 - 2024 | 26.8° F |
Windham County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For Windham households heating with fuel oil, selecting which of the 5 heating oil companies that serve Windham plays a big role in determining how much money is spent on heating each winter.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who want a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system pick one of the 3 “full-service” oil companies that serve Windham. Full service companies such as Barrows & Fisher Oil or Barrows & Fisher Oil offer homeowners annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic fuel oil delivery and furnace repair. With an automatic fuel oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s 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 homeowners who are looking to save money. With discount oil companies, in return for better prices, you monitor the fuel oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order either when the level runs low or just before a major snowstorm. A few of the 2 Windham cash heating oil companies serving Windham include Cota & Cota Inc and BART Energy Llc.
Windham Fuel Oil Company Statistics: Heating oil Companies Serving Windham: 5 companies .
Average Number of Windham Houses Served per Fuel Oil company : 19965
Windham Heating Oil Delivery Overview
99,824 families in Windham heat their homes with heating oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Windham temperatures drop as low as 12.6° F each winter. 34.6% of Windham families rely on number two heating oil delivery each winter.
17.2% of Windham County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| Windham County Households | Windham County Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 579,101 | 99,824 |
36 Windham Heating Oil Companies You Can Trust
With 92,108,924 gallons of oil delivered to Windham residences last winter, the Windham community relies on its 36 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 Windham, 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 Windham and the surrounding area.
