Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Kent Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Homes have a variety of fuels to choose from when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the most popular choice in Kent, used by 235,913 or 53% of families. The next most popular primary heating fuel for Kent residents is Heating Oil, used by 108,766 homes (24%). The other homes are heated with Electricity (16%), Propane (6%), Other (1%), and Wood (1%).
Kent County Residential Primary Home Heating Fuel (No. of Households)
| Year | Natural Gas | Propane | Electricity | Oil | Wood | Solar | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 239,155 | 26,715 | 73,640 | 106,143 | 3,308 | 1,101 | 3,931 |
| 2025 | 235,913 | 24,676 | 70,606 | 108,766 | 3,474 | 1,046 | 3,562 |
| 2024 | 239,478 | 21,922 | 63,619 | 113,718 | 3,280 | 896 | 3,236 |
| 2023 | 225,315 | 26,362 | 64,872 | 117,298 | 4,970 | 781 | 2,523 |
| 2022 | 240,848 | 21,720 | 60,798 | 112,289 | 4,812 | 686 | 3,106 |
| 2021 | 232,445 | 20,854 | 50,898 | 127,202 | 4,581 | 482 | 1,870 |
| 2020 | 228,782 | 17,674 | 46,340 | 121,808 | 5,244 | 362 | 2,025 |
| 2019 | 225,120 | 14,493 | 41,783 | 116,413 | 5,906 | 243 | 2,180 |
| 2018 | 226,173 | 11,618 | 41,491 | 117,880 | 4,634 | 313 | 2,687 |
| 2017 | 216,466 | 12,165 | 43,380 | 126,191 | 5,952 | 47 | 2,845 |
| 2016 | 221,544 | 10,488 | 43,722 | 122,343 | 6,219 | 290 | 2,140 |
| 2015 | 216,129 | 11,955 | 43,085 | 124,029 | 7,228 | 0 | 3,101 |
| 2014 | 217,810 | 11,457 | 39,832 | 129,877 | 7,318 | 0 | 2,159 |
| 2013 | 212,545 | 10,035 | 39,215 | 132,486 | 8,547 | 185 | 1,769 |
| 2012 | 208,173 | 10,361 | 38,606 | 144,208 | 7,592 | 204 | 2,165 |
| 2011 | 209,106 | 7,816 | 34,511 | 151,784 | 5,860 | 75 | 1,590 |
| 2010 | 197,703 | 7,793 | 35,706 | 151,847 | 7,084 | 0 | 814 |
Heating Oil (Fuel Oil) Use in Kent
Fuel oil has become less popular in Kent. In the 10 years since 2015, the number of households using fuel oil dropped from 124,029 to 108,766, a 12% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Kent
Between 2015 and today, the number of homes using propane as the primary space heating fuel grew from 11,955 to 24,676, a 106% change. Comparing 2015 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel increased from 216,129 to 235,913, a 9% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Kent
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more popular in Kent. Since 2015, the number of homes heating with electricity ramped up from 43,085 to 70,606, a 64% change.
Kent County Heating Oil Trends
Last year, Kent County homeowners purchased a total of 17 million gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
Kent’s overall heating oil usage fluctuates yearly depending on winter temperatures. As the temperature outside drops, homes’ boilers need to burn additional number two heating oil to maintain a constant interior temperature. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Kent was 32.1°F, which was 3.9°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
Kent County Average Winter Temperature
| Heating Season | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| 2024 - 2025 | 32.1° F |
| 2023 - 2024 | 36° F |
Kent County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For Kent homeowners heating with oil, selecting which of the 0 heating oil companies that serve Kent can drastically impact the cost of home heating.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who can afford a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system pick one of the 0 “full-service” oil companies that serve Kent. Full service companies such as or offer households annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic fuel oil delivery and furnace 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 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 homeowners who are looking to save money. With discount oil companies, in exchange for lower prices, you monitor the number two heating oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order when you're running low. A few of the 0 Kent cash heating oil companies serving Kent include Inc and .
Kent Fuel Oil Company Statistics: Oil Companies Serving Kent: 0 companies .
Average Number of Kent Households Served per Number Two Heating Oil company : 108766
Kent Heating Oil Delivery Overview
108,766 homes in Kent heat their homes with fuel oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Kent temperatures drop as low as 26.7° F each winter. 24.3% of Kent residences depend on fuel oil delivery each winter.
12.1% of Kent County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| Kent County Households | Kent County Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 898,380 | 108,766 |
0 Kent Number Two Heating Oil Companies Serving The Community
With 91,890,913 gallons of oil delivered to Kent households during this past winter, the Kent community looks to 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 Kent, two of the closest terminals are Shell in Providence, RI and Sprague in Providence, RI. Then, the truck delivers the oil to homes and businesses throughout Kent and the surrounding vicinity.
