Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Hamilton Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Residences have a host of fuels that can be used when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the preferred choice in Hamilton, used by 4,725,574 or 61% of families. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for Hamilton families is Electricity, used by 1,365,710 homes (18%). The remaining homes are heated with Heating Oil (14%), Propane (5%), Other (1%), and Wood (1%).
Hamilton County Residential Primary Home Heating Fuel (No. of Households)
| Year | Natural Gas | Propane | Electricity | Oil | Wood | Solar | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 4,768,707 | 390,135 | 1,429,822 | 1,059,449 | 89,064 | 18,053 | 103,422 |
| 2025 | 4,725,574 | 377,922 | 1,365,710 | 1,103,323 | 92,054 | 16,434 | 100,232 |
| 2024 | 4,679,558 | 370,910 | 1,292,868 | 1,143,783 | 96,147 | 15,259 | 97,524 |
| 2023 | 4,581,041 | 402,335 | 1,263,700 | 1,212,850 | 100,015 | 11,208 | 104,369 |
| 2022 | 4,542,443 | 400,969 | 1,190,880 | 1,279,260 | 99,080 | 11,314 | 103,810 |
| 2021 | 4,489,009 | 388,311 | 1,118,015 | 1,293,770 | 108,202 | 8,858 | 98,952 |
| 2020 | 4,504,504 | 353,944 | 1,014,730 | 1,343,665 | 111,106 | 8,778 | 89,024 |
| 2019 | 4,519,999 | 319,576 | 911,445 | 1,393,560 | 114,011 | 8,697 | 79,096 |
| 2018 | 4,397,917 | 308,020 | 890,554 | 1,459,976 | 120,159 | 6,022 | 82,621 |
| 2017 | 4,339,349 | 294,973 | 867,925 | 1,496,843 | 122,088 | 5,988 | 77,386 |
| 2016 | 4,227,422 | 273,838 | 860,856 | 1,540,787 | 126,890 | 6,535 | 79,479 |
| 2015 | 4,202,413 | 265,224 | 808,370 | 1,649,860 | 141,016 | 3,120 | 78,999 |
| 2014 | 4,186,666 | 258,775 | 770,577 | 1,752,656 | 145,012 | 2,573 | 76,963 |
| 2013 | 4,074,510 | 259,367 | 764,400 | 1,802,442 | 148,422 | 2,525 | 81,841 |
| 2012 | 4,044,389 | 237,738 | 775,390 | 1,901,118 | 155,603 | 2,168 | 61,429 |
| 2011 | 4,014,222 | 222,634 | 707,016 | 1,979,067 | 143,287 | 2,728 | 63,609 |
| 2010 | 3,961,085 | 227,607 | 676,262 | 2,068,004 | 143,242 | 1,823 | 61,664 |
Heating Oil (Fuel Oil) Use in Hamilton
Oil has become less popular in Hamilton. In the 11 years since 2014, the number of residents using heating oil dropped from 1,752,656 to 1,103,323, a 37% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Hamilton
Between 2014 and today, the number of homes using propane as the primary space heating fuel shot up from 258,775 to 377,922, a 46% change. Comparing 2014 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel ramped up from 4,186,666 to 4,725,574, a 13% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Hamilton
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are gaining popularity in Hamilton. Since 2014, the number of homes heating with electricity increased from 770,577 to 1,365,710, a 77% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Hamilton
Out of all fuels, solar is the safest for the environment. 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, 16,434 homes in Hamilton are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 539% gain from 2014, when 2,573 homes used active solar heating.
Hamilton County Heating Oil Trends
Last year, Hamilton County homeowners purchased a total of 438,054 gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
Hamilton’s overall oil use changes each year depending on winter temperatures. As the temperature outside drops, homes’ heating systems need to burn additional fuel oil to maintain a constant interior temperature. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Hamilton was 28.1°F, which was 5.4°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
Hamilton County Average Winter Temperature
| Heating Season | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| 2024 - 2025 | 28.1° F |
| 2023 - 2024 | 33.5° F |
Hamilton County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For Hamilton families heating with heating oil, picking which of the 0 heating oil companies that serve Hamilton makes a big difference.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who value a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system choose one of the 0 “full-service” oil companies that serve Hamilton. Full service companies such as or offer customers 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 heating oil consumption and makes deliveries when your tank is running low. The client 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 homeowners who are on a budget. With discount oil companies, in exchange for lower prices, you monitor the heating oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order either when the level runs low or just before a major snowstorm. A few of the 0 Hamilton cash heating oil companies serving Hamilton include Inc and .
Hamilton Oil Company Fast Facts: Heating oil Companies Serving Hamilton: 0 companies .
Average Number of Hamilton Homes Served per Number Two Heating Oil company : 1103323
Hamilton Heating Oil Delivery Overview
1,103,323 homes in Hamilton heat their homes with number two heating oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Hamilton temperatures drop as low as 22.4° F each winter. 14.2% of Hamilton families rely on number two heating oil delivery each winter.
7% of Hamilton County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| Hamilton County Households | Hamilton County Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 15.6M | 1.1M |
0 Hamilton Fuel Oil Companies You Can Bank On
With 664,748,714 gallons of number two heating oil delivered to Hamilton households the last heating season, the Hamilton 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 Hamilton, two of the closest terminals are Sprague in Bridgeport, CT and N.h.term in New Haven, CT. Then, the truck delivers the oil to homes and businesses throughout Hamilton and the surrounding vicinity.
