Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Aroostook Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Homeowners have a variety of fuels that can be used when it comes to heating. Heating Oil is the most popular choice in Aroostook, used by 298,426 or 48% of residents. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for Aroostook residents is Propane, used by 101,382 homes (16%). The other homes are heated with Electricity (15%), Wood (10%), Natural Gas (9%), and Other (2%).
Aroostook County Residential Primary Home Heating Fuel (No. of Households)
| Year | Natural Gas | Propane | Electricity | Oil | Wood | Solar | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 56,154 | 108,059 | 99,960 | 293,815 | 65,168 | 3,873 | 9,806 |
| 2025 | 53,178 | 101,382 | 92,432 | 298,426 | 65,496 | 3,526 | 9,422 |
| 2024 | 51,248 | 98,171 | 83,361 | 309,159 | 59,610 | 3,144 | 8,226 |
| 2023 | 51,811 | 84,744 | 79,160 | 323,666 | 57,999 | 2,137 | 12,767 |
| 2022 | 48,991 | 84,304 | 63,901 | 339,456 | 51,998 | 1,704 | 11,224 |
| 2021 | 47,952 | 78,322 | 61,019 | 345,133 | 46,227 | 1,374 | 10,375 |
| 2020 | 46,351 | 73,782 | 54,514 | 345,001 | 50,077 | 1,210 | 9,402 |
| 2019 | 44,750 | 69,241 | 48,008 | 344,869 | 53,927 | 1,047 | 8,428 |
| 2018 | 44,328 | 61,194 | 41,759 | 355,904 | 54,843 | 1,169 | 8,683 |
| 2017 | 41,841 | 61,816 | 36,406 | 331,541 | 54,454 | 1,228 | 10,328 |
| 2016 | 41,879 | 52,621 | 33,543 | 333,900 | 55,290 | 312 | 11,584 |
| 2015 | 37,624 | 50,511 | 35,138 | 336,337 | 70,767 | 604 | 11,270 |
| 2014 | 37,608 | 48,027 | 28,040 | 342,185 | 78,214 | 451 | 11,692 |
| 2013 | 31,836 | 45,601 | 28,747 | 351,842 | 76,707 | 486 | 9,827 |
| 2012 | 28,621 | 41,477 | 23,260 | 374,110 | 76,225 | 635 | 6,995 |
| 2011 | 27,427 | 42,224 | 24,723 | 379,409 | 68,055 | 307 | 6,480 |
| 2010 | 23,135 | 36,617 | 27,813 | 384,021 | 65,520 | 446 | 5,177 |
Heating Oil (Fuel Oil) Use in Aroostook
Heating oil has become less frequently used in Aroostook. In the 9 years since 2016, the number of households using heating oil declined from 333,900 to 298,426, a 11% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Aroostook
Between 2016 and today, the number of homes using propane as the primary space heating fuel shot up from 52,621 to 101,382, a 93% change. Comparing 2016 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel increased from 41,879 to 53,178, a 27% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Aroostook
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more popular in Aroostook. Since 2016, the number of homes heating with electricity shot up from 33,543 to 92,432, a 176% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Aroostook
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, 3,526 homes in Aroostook are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 1030% gain from 2016, when 312 homes had active solar heating.
Aroostook County Heating Oil Trends
Last year, Aroostook County homeowners purchased a total of 3 million gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
Aroostook’s overall number two heating oil use varies each year based on the severity of the winter. As the temperature outside gets colder, homes’ heating systems need to burn increasing amounts of fuel oil to keep the house warm inside. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Aroostook was 24.4°F, which was 4.2°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
Aroostook County Average Winter Temperature
| Heating Season | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| 2024 - 2025 | 24.4° F |
| 2023 - 2024 | 28.6° F |
Aroostook County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For Aroostook households heating with oil, selecting which of the 0 heating oil companies that serve Aroostook plays a big role in determining how much money is spent on heating each winter.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who are willing to pay a premium for a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system choose one of the 0 “full-service” oil companies that serve Aroostook. Full service companies such as or offer families annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic oil delivery and boiler repair. With an automatic heating oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s heating 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 known by the names “COD Fuel” or “Cash Heating Oil” companies, discount oil companies are for households 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 when you're running low. Some of the 0 Aroostook cash heating oil companies serving Aroostook include Inc and .
Aroostook Oil Company By The Numbers: Number two heating oil Companies Serving Aroostook: 0 companies .
Average Number of Aroostook Homes Served per Number Two Heating Oil company : 298426
Aroostook Heating Oil Delivery Overview
298,426 homes in Aroostook heat their homes with fuel oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Aroostook temperatures drop as low as 17.7° F each winter. 47.8% of Aroostook homes depend on fuel oil delivery each winter.
23.9% of Aroostook County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| Aroostook County Households | Aroostook County Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 1.2M | 298,426 |
0 Aroostook Heating Oil Companies Homeowners Can Count On
With 246,945,991 gallons of fuel oil delivered to Aroostook homes during this past winter, the Aroostook community depends on its 0 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 Aroostook, two of the closest terminals are Sprague in Newington, NH and Sprague in So. Portland, ME. Then, the truck delivers the fuel oil to residences and companies throughout Aroostook and the surrounding vicinity.
