Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Middlesex Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Homeowners have a choice of fuels that can be used when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the most popular choice in Middlesex, used by 537,918 or 37% of homeowners. The next most popular primary heating fuel for Middlesex households 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 (No. 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 decreasing in demand in Middlesex. In the 7 years since 2018, the number of residents using heating oil dipped from 549,036 to 491,612, a 10% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Middlesex
Between 2018 and today, the number of houses using propane as the primary space heating fuel grew from 60,526 to 88,504, a 46% change. Comparing 2018 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel shot up from 497,422 to 537,918, a 8% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Middlesex
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more prevalent in Middlesex. Since 2018, the number of homes heating with electricity shot up from 232,420 to 302,730, a 30% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Middlesex
The most eco-friendly heating option is solar. With an “active” solar heating system, liquid flows between solar panels on a home’s roof and a heat energy storage tank (similar to a hot water heater) in the basement. Now, 6,488 homes in Middlesex are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 311% gain from 2018, when 1,579 homes utilized 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 fuel oil use changes yearly primarily depending on how cold each winter is. As the temperature outside drops, homes’ heating systems need to burn increasing amounts of number two heating oil to maintain a constant interior temperature. 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 homes heating with number two heating oil, picking which of the 199 heating oil companies that serve Middlesex can drastically impact the cost of home heating.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who value 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 number two heating 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 customers who are on a budget. With discount oil companies, in return for better prices, you monitor the fuel oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order either when the level runs low or just before a major snowstorm. A few of the 2 Middlesex cash heating oil companies serving Middlesex include Angel Fuel LLC and Martin Heating Oil LLC.
Middlesex Heating Oil Company By The Numbers: Number two heating oil Companies Serving Middlesex: 199 companies .
Average Number of Middlesex Households Served per Heating Oil company : 2470
Middlesex Heating Oil Delivery Overview
491,612 residences 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 residences are reliant on fuel 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 Oil Companies Homeowners Can Count On
With 397,280,973 gallons of number two heating oil delivered to Middlesex residences the last heating season, the Middlesex community looks to its 1528 oil companies when temperatures dip. 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 oil to residences and companies throughout Middlesex and the surrounding region.