Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Middlesex Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Families have a variety of fuels to choose from when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the preferred choice in Middlesex, used by 537,918 or 37% of homeowners. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for Middlesex residents is Heating Oil, used by 491,612 homes (34%). The other homes are heated with Electricity (21%), Propane (6%), Wood (1%), and Other (1%).
Middlesex County Residential Primary Home Heating Fuel (in Number of Households)
| Year | Natural Gas | Propane | Electricity | Oil | Wood | Solar | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 537,918 | 88,504 | 302,730 | 491,612 | 19,550 | 6,488 | 10,689 |
| 2024 | 526,146 | 82,630 | 293,463 | 509,593 | 21,103 | 5,852 | 10,146 |
| 2023 | 530,315 | 92,469 | 276,839 | 496,091 | 19,885 | 4,238 | 15,392 |
| 2022 | 519,969 | 86,596 | 262,494 | 520,424 | 18,487 | 2,985 | 13,466 |
| 2021 | 506,772 | 80,721 | 258,306 | 532,053 | 22,992 | 2,966 | 14,306 |
| 2020 | 503,622 | 73,848 | 247,960 | 533,736 | 22,648 | 1,909 | 11,330 |
| 2019 | 500,471 | 66,974 | 237,614 | 535,420 | 22,304 | 852 | 8,355 |
| 2018 | 497,422 | 60,526 | 232,420 | 549,036 | 22,954 | 1,579 | 8,782 |
| 2017 | 478,136 | 55,608 | 219,208 | 562,247 | 24,510 | 1,029 | 10,257 |
| 2016 | 476,852 | 55,631 | 230,532 | 554,283 | 23,580 | 900 | 9,232 |
| 2015 | 471,195 | 51,915 | 214,414 | 561,996 | 29,530 | 937 | 8,159 |
| 2014 | 464,748 | 49,540 | 212,031 | 576,948 | 34,478 | 554 | 11,670 |
| 2013 | 449,787 | 46,397 | 209,463 | 585,757 | 29,361 | 401 | 10,236 |
| 2012 | 442,443 | 43,849 | 212,708 | 615,734 | 27,351 | 378 | 9,891 |
| 2011 | 437,840 | 43,778 | 207,267 | 625,164 | 25,707 | 611 | 7,588 |
| 2010 | 427,850 | 39,533 | 203,568 | 650,621 | 26,373 | 299 | 7,110 |
Heating Oil (Fuel Oil) Use in Middlesex
Number two heating oil has become less popular in Middlesex. In the 13 years since 2012, the number of residents using number two heating oil dropped from 615,734 to 491,612, a 20% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Middlesex
Between 2012 and today, the number of homes using propane as the primary space heating fuel grew from 43,849 to 88,504, a 102% change. Comparing 2012 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel grew from 442,443 to 537,918, a 22% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Middlesex
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more prevalent in Middlesex. Since 2012, the number of homes heating with electricity jumped from 212,708 to 302,730, a 42% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Middlesex
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, 6,488 homes in Middlesex are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 1616% gain from 2012, when 378 homes incorporated active solar heating.
Middlesex County Heating Oil Trends
Last year, Middlesex County homeowners purchased a total of 27 million gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
Middlesex’s overall number two heating oil use changes each year based on the severity of the winter. As the temperature outside drops, homes’ heating systems need to burn more and more heating oil to maintain the temperature that the thermostat is set to. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Middlesex was 30.6°F, which was 4.6°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
Middlesex County Average Winter Temperature
| Heating Season | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| 2024 - 2025 | 30.6° F |
| 2023 - 2024 | 35.2° F |
Middlesex County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For Middlesex residences heating with heating oil, picking which of the 199 heating oil companies that serve Middlesex plays a big role in determining how much money is spent on heating each winter.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who are willing to pay a premium for a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system choose one of the 961 “full-service” oil companies that serve Middlesex. Full service companies such as Aaa Oil Company or Spring Brook Ice & Fuel offer homeowners annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic number two heating oil delivery and heating system repair. With an automatic heating oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s 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 referred to as “COD Fuel” or “Cash Heating Oil” companies, discount oil companies are for families who are on a budget. With discount oil companies, in return for better prices, you monitor the heating oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order when the oil gauge dips below a quarter tank. Some of the 2 Middlesex cash heating oil companies serving Middlesex include Angel Fuel LLC and Martin Heating Oil LLC.
Middlesex Number Two Heating Oil Company Statistics: Number two heating oil Companies Serving Middlesex: 199 companies .
Average Number of Middlesex Households Served per Number Two Heating Oil company : 2470
Middlesex Heating Oil Delivery Overview
491,612 families in Middlesex heat their homes with oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Middlesex temperatures drop as low as 25.1° F each winter. 33.7% of Middlesex households rely on oil delivery each winter.
16.8% of Middlesex County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| Middlesex County Households | Middlesex County Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 2.9M | 491,612 |
1528 Middlesex Heating Oil Companies Serving The Community
With 397,280,973 gallons of oil delivered to Middlesex households the last heating season, the Middlesex community looks to its 1528 oil companies to keep warm throughout the winter. Oil delivery is a two step process: First, an oil truck picks up oil at the nearest bulk fuel terminal (also known as a “rack”). In the case of Middlesex, two of the closest terminals are Buckeye in Wethersfield, CT and Sprague W in Springfield, MA. Then, the truck delivers the number two heating oil to residences and companies throughout Middlesex and the surrounding vicinity.