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

Families have a variety of fuels that can be used when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the most popular choice in Norfolk, used by 1,473,396 or 52% of residents. The next most popular primary heating fuel for Norfolk families is Electricity, used by 610,876 homes (22%). The other homes are heated with Heating Oil (20%), Propane (5%), Wood (1%), and Other (1%).

Norfolk 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 Norfolk

Oil has become less frequently used in Norfolk. In the 2 years since 2023, the number of residents using heating oil dropped from 615,564 to 555,640, a 10% drop.

Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Norfolk

Between 2023 and today, the number of households using propane as the primary space heating fuel dropped from 137,540 to 128,896, a 6% change. Comparing 2023 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel grew from 1,413,104 to 1,473,396, a 4% change.

Electricity use for home heating in Norfolk

Electric heat pump systems for home heating are increasing in demand in Norfolk. Since 2023, the number of homes heating with electricity rose from 556,235 to 610,876, a 10% change.

Adoption of solar home heating systems in Norfolk

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. Today, 9,580 homes in Norfolk are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 38% gain from 2023, when 6,958 homes utilized active solar heating.

Norfolk County Heating Oil Trends

Last year, Norfolk County homeowners purchased a total of 60 million gallons of heating oil.

Short Term Trends

Norfolk’s overall heating oil use varies yearly correlating with how cold it gets each 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 Norfolk was 30.0°F, which was 4.5°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.

Norfolk County Average Winter Temperature

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

Norfolk County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company

For Norfolk homeowners heating with fuel oil, picking which of the 227 heating oil companies that serve Norfolk can drastically impact the cost of home heating.

Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who want a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system pick one of the 2301 “full-service” oil companies that serve Norfolk. Full service companies such as Ruggiero Bros Inc or Comfort Temp Oil offer homeowners annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic number two heating oil delivery and boiler repair. With an automatic fuel oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s fuel oil consumption and makes deliveries when your tank is running low. The customer 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 families who are budget-conscious. With discount oil companies, in exchange for lower prices, you monitor the heating oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order when the oil gauge dips below a quarter tank. Examples of 2 Norfolk cash heating oil companies serving Norfolk include Hughes Oil Inc and Independent Fuel.

Norfolk Oil Company By The Numbers: Number two heating oil Companies Serving Norfolk: 227 companies .

Average Number of Norfolk Houses Served per Number Two Heating Oil company : 2448

Norfolk Heating Oil Delivery Overview

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

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

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

4518 Norfolk Oil Companies Go The Distance

With 582,115,838 gallons of oil delivered to Norfolk residences during this past winter, the Norfolk community relies on its 4518 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 Norfolk, 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 Norfolk and the surrounding vicinity.