Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Coos Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Homeowners have a host of fuels to choose from when it comes to heating. Heating Oil is the most common choice in Coos, used by 212,831 or 37% of families. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for Coos homeowners is Natural Gas, used by 124,974 homes (22%). The remaining homes are heated with Propane (21%), Electricity (12%), Wood (6%), and Other (2%).
Coos 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 Coos
Fuel oil has become less popular in Coos. In the 12 years since 2013, the number of homeowners using fuel oil dipped from 239,542 to 212,831, a 11% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Coos
Between 2013 and today, the number of houses using propane as the primary space heating fuel increased 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 ramped up from 101,529 to 124,974, a 23% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Coos
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more popular in Coos. 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 Coos
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. As it stands today, 2,474 homes in Coos are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 641% gain from 2013, when 334 homes had active solar heating.
Coos County Heating Oil Trends
Last year, Coos County homeowners purchased a total of 2 million gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
Coos’s overall number two heating oil usage changes each year primarily depending on how cold each winter is. As the temperature outside gets more chilly, homes’ HVAC systems need to burn additional oil to keep the house warm inside. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Coos was 24.1°F, which was 5.3°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
Coos County Average Winter Temperature
| Heating Season | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| 2024 - 2025 | 24.1° F |
| 2023 - 2024 | 29.4° F |
Coos County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For Coos families heating with number two heating oil, selecting which of the 4 heating oil companies that serve Coos can drastically impact the cost of home heating.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who prefer a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system choose one of the 0 “full-service” oil companies that serve Coos. Full service companies such as or offer customers annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic oil delivery and heating system repair. With an automatic fuel oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s number two heating 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: Often called “COD Fuel” or “Cash Heating Oil” companies, discount oil companies are for clients 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 the oil gauge dips below a quarter tank. A few of the 2 Coos cash heating oil companies serving Coos include Fitch Fuel Co Inc Inc and Kmj Precision Fuels Inc.
Coos Fuel Oil Company Fast Facts: Oil Companies Serving Coos: 4 companies .
Average Number of Coos Houses Served per Heating Oil company : 53208
Coos Heating Oil Delivery Overview
212,831 households in Coos heat their homes with oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Coos temperatures drop as low as 16.9° F each winter. 36.9% of Coos families rely on number two heating oil delivery each winter.
18.4% of Coos County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| Coos County Households | Coos County Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 1.1M | 212,831 |
14 Coos Heating Oil Companies Homeowners Can Count On
With 199,461,865 gallons of oil delivered to Coos families last winter, the Coos community looks to its 14 oil companies when temperatures dip. 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 Coos, two of the closest terminals are Sprague in Newington, NH and Gulf in Chelsea, MA. Then, the truck delivers the #2 heating oil to residences and companies throughout Coos and the surrounding area.
