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Troy, NHPropane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Cheshire Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Residences have a host of fuels to choose from when it comes to heating. Heating Oil is the most common choice in Cheshire, used by 212,831 or 37% of families. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for Cheshire families is Natural Gas, used by 124,974 homes (22%). The rest of the homes are heated with Propane (21%), Electricity (12%), Wood (6%), and Other (2%).
Cheshire County Residential Primary Home Heating Fuel (No. of Households)
| Year | Natural Gas | Propane | Electricity | Oil | Wood | Solar | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 126,732 | 125,939 | 73,211 | 209,287 | 31,664 | 2,712 | 12,560 |
| 2025 | 124,974 | 121,512 | 70,926 | 212,831 | 32,268 | 2,474 | 11,835 |
| 2024 | 126,691 | 116,162 | 68,090 | 211,416 | 29,746 | 2,147 | 11,751 |
| 2023 | 118,533 | 112,909 | 64,436 | 221,554 | 35,424 | 1,544 | 10,170 |
| 2022 | 121,267 | 103,967 | 61,455 | 223,612 | 30,964 | 909 | 10,992 |
| 2021 | 121,966 | 102,208 | 58,765 | 218,724 | 30,381 | 890 | 10,002 |
| 2020 | 118,607 | 98,116 | 56,313 | 223,224 | 32,446 | 761 | 9,755 |
| 2019 | 115,248 | 94,024 | 53,861 | 227,725 | 34,512 | 632 | 9,508 |
| 2018 | 113,986 | 86,695 | 50,260 | 232,152 | 35,632 | 411 | 8,224 |
| 2017 | 111,070 | 90,341 | 47,927 | 227,681 | 37,912 | 575 | 8,850 |
| 2016 | 110,428 | 81,949 | 48,677 | 229,187 | 35,047 | 666 | 9,880 |
| 2015 | 103,292 | 78,670 | 46,002 | 232,674 | 42,472 | 488 | 10,268 |
| 2014 | 100,601 | 76,212 | 46,268 | 230,361 | 49,555 | 275 | 10,068 |
| 2013 | 101,529 | 76,485 | 42,038 | 239,542 | 44,711 | 334 | 9,251 |
| 2012 | 104,858 | 72,091 | 39,257 | 245,324 | 43,948 | 593 | 7,870 |
| 2011 | 100,958 | 74,416 | 40,613 | 252,159 | 37,084 | 280 | 7,019 |
| 2010 | 100,857 | 70,863 | 41,909 | 253,772 | 40,272 | 85 | 4,752 |
Heating Oil (Fuel Oil) Use in Cheshire
Fuel oil has become less popular in Cheshire. In the 12 years since 2013, the number of households using fuel oil dropped from 239,542 to 212,831, a 11% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Cheshire
Between 2013 and today, the number of houses using propane as the primary space heating fuel jumped from 76,485 to 121,512, a 59% change. Comparing 2013 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel shot up from 101,529 to 124,974, a 23% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Cheshire
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more prevalent in Cheshire. Since 2013, the number of homes heating with electricity increased from 42,038 to 70,926, a 69% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Cheshire
The most eco-friendly heating option is solar. With an “active” solar heating system, liquid is circulated between solar panels on a home’s roof and a heat energy storage tank (similar to a hot water heater) in the basement. Currently, 2,474 homes in Cheshire are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 641% gain from 2013, when 334 homes utilized active solar heating.
Cheshire County Heating Oil Trends
Last year, Cheshire County homeowners purchased a total of 15 million gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
Cheshire’s overall heating oil consumption varies annually correlating with how cold it gets each winter. As the temperature outside dips, homes’ boilers need to burn additional fuel oil to keep the house warm inside. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Cheshire was 24.1°F, which was 5.3°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
Cheshire County Average Winter Temperature
| Heating Season | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| 2024 - 2025 | 24.1° F |
| 2023 - 2024 | 29.4° F |
Cheshire County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For Cheshire homes heating with heating oil, picking which of the 0 heating oil companies that serve Cheshire plays a big role in determining how much money is spent on heating each winter.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who value a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system select one of the 0 “full-service” oil companies that serve Cheshire. Full service companies such as or offer homeowners annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic heating oil delivery and furnace repair. With an automatic heating oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s fuel 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 clients who are budget-conscious. With discount oil companies, in return for better prices, you monitor the oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order when the oil gauge dips below a quarter tank. Examples of 0 Cheshire cash heating oil companies serving Cheshire include Inc and .
Cheshire Oil Company By The Numbers: Oil Companies Serving Cheshire: 0 companies .
Average Number of Cheshire Households Served per Number Two Heating Oil company : 212831
Cheshire Heating Oil Delivery Overview
212,831 households in Cheshire heat their homes with oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Cheshire temperatures drop as low as 16.9° F each winter. 36.9% of Cheshire households rely on heating oil delivery each winter.
18.4% of Cheshire County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| Cheshire County Households | Cheshire County Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 1.1M | 212,831 |
0 Cheshire Oil Companies Homeowners Can Count On
With 199,461,865 gallons of fuel oil delivered to Cheshire homes last winter, the Cheshire community looks to 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 Cheshire, two of the closest terminals are Sprague in Newington, NH and Gulf in Chelsea, MA. Then, the truck delivers the oil to residences and companies throughout Cheshire and the surrounding vicinity.