Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Essex Home Heating Fuel Comparison

Families have a host of fuels to choose from when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the most common choice in Essex, used by 1,473,396 or 52% of homeowners. The next most popular primary heating fuel for Essex households is Electricity, used by 610,876 homes (22%). The other homes are heated with Heating Oil (20%), Propane (5%), Wood (1%), and Other (1%).

Essex County Residential Primary Home Heating Fuel (No. of Households)

Year	Natural Gas	Propane	Electricity	Oil	Wood	Solar	Other
2026	1,483,713	134,558	634,170	544,416	28,375	10,548	24,323
2025	1,473,396	128,896	610,876	555,640	29,010	9,580	23,565
2024	1,472,791	124,926	578,927	572,376	29,933	9,004	21,569
2023	1,413,104	137,540	556,235	615,564	28,805	6,958	25,447
2022	1,443,888	131,253	509,852	627,332	30,194	6,361	26,280
2021	1,411,895	129,599	492,336	649,036	30,651	5,807	21,455
2020	1,398,855	113,994	470,610	647,570	31,378	4,678	21,500
2019	1,385,815	98,388	448,883	646,103	32,105	3,549	21,544
2018	1,374,460	92,227	434,646	657,583	28,621	3,078	20,618
2017	1,353,682	88,756	418,715	674,937	34,421	3,525	19,989
2016	1,332,610	81,858	405,055	688,925	35,051	2,421	19,478
2015	1,306,073	79,528	403,279	690,548	38,927	1,693	20,120
2014	1,310,713	77,135	371,616	703,760	41,999	825	21,307
2013	1,265,878	81,306	371,400	740,917	47,009	1,432	17,553
2012	1,249,253	68,517	365,060	772,641	43,393	487	14,495
2011	1,242,643	65,582	354,007	806,422	40,356	893	13,919
2010	1,234,502	70,046	341,806	810,266	38,813	880	14,235

Heating Oil (Fuel Oil) Use in Essex

Heating oil has become decreasing in demand in Essex. In the 1 years since 2024, the number of families using number two heating oil fell from 572,376 to 555,640, a 3% drop.

Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Essex

Between 2024 and today, the number of households using propane as the primary space heating fuel increased from 124,926 to 128,896, a 3% change. Comparing 2024 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel held steady at 1,473,396, a 0% change.

Electricity use for home heating in Essex

Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more prevalent in Essex. Since 2024, the number of homes heating with electricity ramped up from 578,927 to 610,876, a 6% change.

Adoption of solar home heating systems in Essex

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. Currently, 9,580 homes in Essex are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 6% gain from 2024, when 9,004 homes incorporated active solar heating.

Essex County Heating Oil Trends

Last year, Essex County homeowners purchased a total of 59 million gallons of heating oil.

Short Term Trends

Essex’s overall fuel oil use varies each year based on the severity of the winter. As the temperature outside gets colder, homes’ HVAC systems need to burn increasing amounts of number two heating oil to keep the house warm inside. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Essex was 30.0°F, which was 4.5°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.

Essex County Average Winter Temperature

Heating Season	Average Temperature
2024 - 2025	30° F
2023 - 2024	34.5° F

Essex County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company

For Essex homes heating with number two heating oil, choosing which of the 175 heating oil companies that serve Essex is an important decision.

Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who can afford a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system pick one of the 1208 “full-service” oil companies that serve Essex. Full service companies such as Keohan Fuels & Transportation Inc or Absolute Oil offer clients annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic heating oil delivery and furnace repair. With an automatic fuel 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: Often called “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 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 Essex cash heating oil companies serving Essex include Edgemont Oil Llc Inc and Maria's Oil.

Essex Number Two Heating Oil Company By The Numbers: Number two heating oil Companies Serving Essex: 175 companies .

Average Number of Essex Houses Served per Number Two Heating Oil company : 3175

Essex Heating Oil Delivery Overview

555,640 houses in Essex heat their homes with fuel oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Essex temperatures drop as low as 24.3° F each winter. 19.6% of Essex families depend on heating oil delivery each winter.

9.8% of Essex County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter

Essex County Households	Essex County Heating Oil Households
5.6M	555,640

2691 Essex Oil Companies You Can Trust

With 582,115,838 gallons of heating oil delivered to Essex houses during this past winter, the Essex community depends on its 2691 oil companies to keep their oil tanks full. 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 Essex, two of the closest terminals are Sprague W in Springfield, MA and Buckeye in Springfield, MA. Then, the truck delivers the fuel oil to homes and businesses throughout Essex and the surrounding vicinity.