Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Nantucket Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Homeowners have a host of fuels to choose from when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the preferred choice in Nantucket, used by 1,473,396 or 52% of families. The next most popular primary heating fuel for Nantucket residents is Electricity, used by 610,876 homes (22%). The other homes are heated with Heating Oil (20%), Propane (5%), Wood (1%), and Other (1%).
Nantucket 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 Nantucket
Oil has become less frequently used in Nantucket. In the 6 years since 2019, the number of residents using heating oil dipped from 646,103 to 555,640, a 14% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Nantucket
Between 2019 and today, the number of houses using propane as the primary space heating fuel rose from 98,388 to 128,896, a 31% change. Comparing 2019 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel rose from 1,385,815 to 1,473,396, a 6% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Nantucket
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more popular in Nantucket. Since 2019, the number of homes heating with electricity rose from 448,883 to 610,876, a 36% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Nantucket
Out of all fuels, solar is the safest for the environment. 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. Today, 9,580 homes in Nantucket are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 170% gain from 2019, when 3,549 homes incorporated active solar heating.
Nantucket County Heating Oil Trends
Last year, Nantucket County homeowners purchased a total of 1 million gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
Nantucket’s overall number two heating oil consumption varies annually primarily depending on how cold each winter is. As the temperature outside gets colder, homes’ HVAC systems need to burn additional number two heating oil to maintain the temperature that the thermostat is set to. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Nantucket was 30.0°F, which was 4.5°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
Nantucket County Average Winter Temperature
| Heating Season | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| 2024 - 2025 | 30° F |
| 2023 - 2024 | 34.5° F |
Nantucket County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For Nantucket households heating with oil, choosing which of the 0 heating oil companies that serve Nantucket makes a big difference.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who value a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system pick one of the 0 “full-service” oil companies that serve Nantucket. Full service companies such as or offer households annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic fuel oil delivery and HVAC 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: also referred to as “COD Fuel” or “Cash Heating Oil” companies, discount oil companies are for clients who are looking to save money. With discount oil companies, in exchange for lower prices, you monitor the number two heating oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order when the oil gauge dips below a quarter tank. Examples of 0 Nantucket cash heating oil companies serving Nantucket include Inc and .
Nantucket Fuel Oil Company Fast Facts: Fuel oil Companies Serving Nantucket: 0 companies .
Average Number of Nantucket Houses Served per Heating Oil company : 555640
Nantucket Heating Oil Delivery Overview
555,640 residences in Nantucket heat their homes with heating oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Nantucket temperatures drop as low as 24.3° F each winter. 19.6% of Nantucket residences rely on heating oil delivery each winter.
9.8% of Nantucket County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| Nantucket County Households | Nantucket County Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 5.6M | 555,640 |
0 Nantucket Heating Oil Companies Homeowners Can Count On
With 582,115,838 gallons of oil delivered to Nantucket residences during this past winter, the Nantucket community looks to its 0 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 Nantucket, two of the closest terminals are Sprague W in Springfield, MA and Buckeye in Springfield, MA. Then, the truck delivers the #2 heating oil to residences and companies throughout Nantucket and the surrounding vicinity.
