Following state trends, renting housing is becoming more popular in Capital Region. High taxes, strong stock markets, and people's general desire probably not to settle down and raise a family in New York State probably leads to more people preferring to rent.
Here is a look at the percentage of households that are renters, per the 2014 5-year American Community Survey Averages in Block Groups. Election districts are overlaid for reference.
Slightly more then 42 percent of New York State residents are renters according to the 2020 American Community Survey.
Over the past 15 years, New York State has seen an uptick of residents who rent.
In some rural parts of the state, propane is used as a heating fuel, but it's not a real popular fuel compared to oil and natural gas.
Source: 2019 ACS5 Table No. B25038
Data Source: US Census Bureau, 2019 5 yr ACS. data.census.gov