Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Windham 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 Windham, used by 99,824 or 35% of households. The next most popular primary heating fuel for Windham 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%).
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
Fuel oil has become losing popularity in Windham. In the 12 years since 2013, the number of households using oil dropped from 111,011 to 99,824, a 10% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Windham
Between 2013 and today, the number of households using propane as the primary space heating fuel grew from 38,339 to 57,954, a 51% change. Comparing 2013 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel shot up from 42,192 to 55,373, a 31% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Windham
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more prevalent in Windham. Since 2013, the number of homes heating with electricity ramped up from 11,779 to 36,366, a 209% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Windham
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. Now, 1,820 homes in Windham are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 608% gain from 2013, when 257 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 fuel oil consumption changes annually based on the severity of the winter. As the temperature outside gets colder, homes’ heating systems need to burn additional 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 families heating with heating oil, choosing 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 clients annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic number two heating oil delivery and boiler repair. With an automatic 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: Often called “COD Fuel” or “Cash Heating Oil” companies, discount oil companies are for customers who are budget-conscious. With discount oil companies, in exchange for lower prices, you monitor the fuel oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order when you're running low. Examples of 2 Windham cash heating oil companies serving Windham include Cota & Cota Inc and BART Energy Llc.
Windham Oil Company Statistics: Heating oil Companies Serving Windham: 5 companies .
Average Number of Windham Households Served per Number Two Heating Oil company : 19965
Windham Heating Oil Delivery Overview
99,824 households in Windham heat their homes with 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 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 Number Two Heating Oil Companies Go The Distance
With 92,108,924 gallons of fuel oil delivered to Windham homes the last heating season, the Windham community relies on its 36 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 Windham, two of the closest terminals are Sprague in Newington, NH and Apex in Rensselaer, NY. Then, the truck delivers the number two heating oil to homes and businesses throughout Windham and the surrounding vicinity.
