Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Grafton Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Homeowners have a variety of fuels that can be used when it comes to heating. Heating Oil is the preferred choice in Grafton, used by 212,831 or 37% of households. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for Grafton residents 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%).
Grafton 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 Grafton
Number two heating oil has become decreasing in demand in Grafton. In the 3 years since 2022, the number of families using fuel oil dropped from 223,612 to 212,831, a 5% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Grafton
Between 2022 and today, the number of households using propane as the primary space heating fuel increased from 103,967 to 121,512, a 17% change. Comparing 2022 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel increased from 121,267 to 124,974, a 3% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Grafton
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more popular in Grafton. Since 2022, the number of homes heating with electricity shot up from 61,455 to 70,926, a 15% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Grafton
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. Today, 2,474 homes in Grafton are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 172% gain from 2022, when 909 homes had active solar heating.
Grafton County Heating Oil Trends
Last year, Grafton County homeowners purchased a total of 7 million gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
Grafton’s overall heating oil use fluctuates from year to year as winter conditions change. As the temperature outside dips, homes’ HVAC systems need to burn increasing amounts of oil to keep the house warm inside. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Grafton was 24.1°F, which was 5.3°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
Grafton County Average Winter Temperature
| Heating Season | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| 2024 - 2025 | 24.1° F |
| 2023 - 2024 | 29.4° F |
Grafton County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For Grafton residences heating with fuel oil, selecting which of the 0 heating oil companies that serve Grafton plays a big role in determining how much money is spent on heating each winter.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who can afford a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system select one of the 0 “full-service” oil companies that serve Grafton. Full service companies such as or offer clients annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic oil delivery and furnace repair. With an automatic fuel oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s heating 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 on a budget. With discount oil companies, in return for better prices, you monitor the number two heating oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order either when the level runs low or just before a major snowstorm. Some of the 0 Grafton cash heating oil companies serving Grafton include Inc and .
Grafton Heating Oil Company By The Numbers: Fuel oil Companies Serving Grafton: 0 companies .
Average Number of Grafton Houses Served per Number Two Heating Oil company : 212831
Grafton Heating Oil Delivery Overview
212,831 houses in Grafton heat their homes with oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Grafton temperatures drop as low as 16.9° F each winter. 36.9% of Grafton homes are reliant on oil delivery each winter.
18.4% of Grafton County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| Grafton County Households | Grafton County Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 1.1M | 212,831 |
0 Grafton Heating Oil Companies Serving The Community
With 199,461,865 gallons of fuel oil delivered to Grafton houses last winter, the Grafton community looks to its 0 oil companies to keep warm throughout the winter. 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 Grafton, two of the closest terminals are Sprague in Newington, NH and Gulf in Chelsea, MA. Then, the truck delivers the fuel oil to residences and companies throughout Grafton and the surrounding vicinity.
