Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: York Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Families have a choice of fuels to choose from when it comes to heating. Heating Oil is the most common choice in York, used by 298,426 or 48% of homeowners. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for York households is Propane, used by 101,382 homes (16%). The rest of the homes are heated with Electricity (15%), Wood (10%), Natural Gas (9%), and Other (2%).
York 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 York
Oil has become decreasing in demand in York. In the 1 years since 2024, the number of homeowners using fuel oil dipped from 309,159 to 298,426, a 3% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in York
Between 2024 and today, the number of houses using propane as the primary space heating fuel jumped from 98,171 to 101,382, a 3% change. Comparing 2024 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel increased from 51,248 to 53,178, a 4% change.
Electricity use for home heating in York
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are gaining popularity in York. Since 2024, the number of homes heating with electricity rose from 83,361 to 92,432, a 11% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in York
The most eco-friendly heating option is solar. 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. Now, 3,526 homes in York are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 12% gain from 2024, when 3,144 homes used active solar heating.
York County Heating Oil Trends
Last year, York County homeowners purchased a total of 41 million gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
York’s overall heating oil usage varies from year to year correlating with how cold it gets each winter. As the temperature outside dips, homes’ boilers need to burn increasing amounts of oil to maintain the temperature that the thermostat is set to. Last winter, the average outside temperature in York was 24.4°F, which was 4.2°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
York County Average Winter Temperature
| Heating Season | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| 2024 - 2025 | 24.4° F |
| 2023 - 2024 | 28.6° F |
York County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For York homeowners heating with oil, selecting which of the 0 heating oil companies that serve York is an important decision.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who can afford a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system choose one of the 0 “full-service” oil companies that serve York. Full service companies such as or offer households annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic heating oil delivery and furnace repair. With an automatic number two heating oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s fuel oil consumption and makes deliveries when your tank is running low. The household 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 families who are looking to save money. 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. Some of the 0 York cash heating oil companies serving York include Inc and .
York Number Two Heating Oil Company By The Numbers: Number two heating oil Companies Serving York: 0 companies .
Average Number of York Homes Served per Number Two Heating Oil company : 298426
York Heating Oil Delivery Overview
298,426 residences in York heat their homes with fuel oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when York temperatures drop as low as 17.7° F each winter. 47.8% of York homes are reliant on number two heating oil delivery each winter.
23.9% of York County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| York County Households | York County Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 1.2M | 298,426 |
0 York Fuel Oil Companies You Can Trust
With 246,945,991 gallons of oil delivered to York households during this past winter, the York community depends on its 0 oil companies when temperatures dip. Oil delivery can be summed up in two steps: First, an oil truck picks up oil at the nearest bulk fuel terminal (also known as a “rack”). In the case of York, two of the closest terminals are Sprague in Newington, NH and Sprague in So. Portland, ME. Then, the truck delivers the oil to residences and companies throughout York and the surrounding area.
