Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Bradford Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Homeowners have a choice of fuels that can be used when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the most common choice in Bradford, used by 2,796,352 or 52% of residents. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for Bradford families is Electricity, used by 1,447,260 homes (27%). The rest of the homes are heated with Heating Oil (12%), Propane (5%), Wood (2%), and Coal (1%).
Bradford County Residential Primary Home Heating Fuel (No. of Households)
| Year | Natural Gas | Propane | Electricity | Oil | Wood | Solar | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2,805,138 | 291,502 | 1,481,338 | 646,118 | 111,006 | 7,892 | 31,343 |
| 2025 | 2,796,352 | 282,182 | 1,447,260 | 663,450 | 112,270 | 7,204 | 31,146 |
| 2024 | 2,785,913 | 276,598 | 1,396,275 | 685,083 | 111,416 | 6,155 | 32,085 |
| 2023 | 2,698,411 | 278,621 | 1,389,291 | 717,601 | 111,540 | 6,964 | 44,558 |
| 2022 | 2,710,114 | 282,625 | 1,337,240 | 742,118 | 105,147 | 5,282 | 41,959 |
| 2021 | 2,677,533 | 267,454 | 1,287,322 | 760,867 | 109,832 | 4,867 | 46,436 |
| 2020 | 2,656,062 | 251,472 | 1,254,850 | 776,616 | 113,900 | 4,554 | 41,326 |
| 2019 | 2,634,591 | 235,490 | 1,222,377 | 792,365 | 117,969 | 4,241 | 36,216 |
| 2018 | 2,592,386 | 225,476 | 1,198,450 | 806,761 | 128,110 | 2,197 | 35,172 |
| 2017 | 2,598,275 | 222,650 | 1,158,937 | 790,353 | 127,198 | 2,225 | 35,586 |
| 2016 | 2,551,248 | 209,719 | 1,133,797 | 805,822 | 125,583 | 1,639 | 34,565 |
| 2015 | 2,549,385 | 200,754 | 1,103,995 | 837,082 | 141,835 | 2,117 | 38,034 |
| 2014 | 2,528,694 | 198,296 | 1,087,741 | 858,758 | 148,256 | 1,760 | 36,886 |
| 2013 | 2,516,052 | 195,799 | 1,086,074 | 870,064 | 148,597 | 1,408 | 33,941 |
| 2012 | 2,530,063 | 188,880 | 1,046,982 | 936,674 | 145,089 | 1,484 | 31,494 |
| 2011 | 2,516,883 | 178,387 | 1,019,764 | 973,749 | 137,625 | 1,545 | 28,259 |
| 2010 | 2,530,446 | 177,562 | 997,925 | 993,832 | 126,074 | 597 | 29,423 |
Heating Oil (Fuel Oil) Use in Bradford
Fuel oil has become less popular in Bradford. In the 11 years since 2014, the number of households using oil declined from 858,758 to 663,450, a 23% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Bradford
Between 2014 and today, the number of houses using propane as the primary space heating fuel increased from 198,296 to 282,182, a 42% change. Comparing 2014 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel grew from 2,528,694 to 2,796,352, a 11% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Bradford
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more popular in Bradford. Since 2014, the number of homes heating with electricity jumped from 1,087,741 to 1,447,260, a 33% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Bradford
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. Today, 7,204 homes in Bradford are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 309% gain from 2014, when 1,760 homes incorporated active solar heating.
Bradford County Heating Oil Trends
Last year, Bradford County homeowners purchased a total of 653,032 gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
Bradford’s overall number two heating oil consumption fluctuates each year correlating with how cold it gets each winter. As the temperature outside gets colder, homes’ boilers need to burn more and more fuel oil to maintain a constant interior temperature. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Bradford was 29.3°F, which was 5.5°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
Bradford County Average Winter Temperature
| Heating Season | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| 2024 - 2025 | 29.3° F |
| 2023 - 2024 | 34.8° F |
Bradford County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For Bradford homes heating with heating oil, picking which of the 0 heating oil companies that serve Bradford can drastically impact the cost of home heating.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who are willing to pay a premium for a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system pick one of the 0 “full-service” oil companies that serve Bradford. Full service companies such as or offer households annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic fuel oil delivery and heating system 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 family 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 families who are looking to save money. 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 when the oil gauge dips below a quarter tank. Some of the 0 Bradford cash heating oil companies serving Bradford include Inc and .
Bradford Fuel Oil Company By The Numbers: Heating oil Companies Serving Bradford: 0 companies .
Average Number of Bradford Homes Served per Number Two Heating Oil company : 663450
Bradford Heating Oil Delivery Overview
663,450 houses in Bradford heat their homes with oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Bradford temperatures drop as low as 23.2° F each winter. 12.3% of Bradford households are reliant on number two heating oil delivery each winter.
6.1% of Bradford County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| Bradford County Households | Bradford County Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 10.7M | 663,450 |
0 Bradford Fuel Oil Companies Homeowners Can Count On
With 507,486,889 gallons of fuel oil delivered to Bradford households during this past winter, the Bradford community relies on its 0 oil companies to keep their oil tanks full. 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 Bradford, two of the closest terminals are Ergon in Newell, PA and Etmt in Blawnox, PA. Then, the truck delivers the fuel oil to residences and companies throughout Bradford and the surrounding vicinity.
