Ranked from NOAA 1991-2020 Climate Normals
Highest Heating Demand in Massachusetts
Heating degree days measure how far and how long the outside temperature sits below 65°F across a year, which is the closest single number to how much heat a house has to make. Figures are NOAA 1991-2020 Climate Normals from the weather station nearest each county seat, so they describe a thirty-year average rather than any single year.
Massachusetts ranked
| # | County | Heating degree days | Winter low | Monthly to own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Berkshire County | 7,224 | 13.9°F | $2,391 |
| 2 | Franklin County | 6,683 | 13.6°F | $2,576 |
| 3 | Worcester County | 6,622 | 17.1°F | $3,188 |
| 4 | Hampden County | 6,330 | 15.5°F | $2,379 |
| 5 | Hampshire County | 6,330 | 15.5°F | $3,022 |
| 6 | Essex County | 6,103 | 19.7°F | $4,519 |
| 7 | Middlesex County | 5,996 | 18.2°F | $5,264 |
| 8 | Bristol County | 5,860 | 20.7°F | $3,345 |
| 9 | Dukes County | 5,819 | 23.3°F | $7,800 |
| 10 | Suffolk County | 5,546 | 23.1°F | $4,997 |
| 11 | Norfolk County | 5,540 | 20.6°F | $5,007 |
| 12 | Nantucket County | 5,536 | 26.6°F | $9,409 |
| 13 | Barnstable County | 5,518 | 24.1°F | $4,286 |
| 14 | Plymouth County | 5,309 | 21.8°F | $4,069 |
Every figure is modelled on the county's own median home with 20% down at 7.03%. Property tax and electricity are county and state specific; homeowners insurance uses the NAIC average premium for that state, which ranges from 0.16% of home value in Hawaii to 1.16% in Oklahoma. Maintenance and water are national estimates. Full methodology.
Nationwide
Highest Heating Demand across all 3,133 US counties · Every county in Massachusetts