Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Camden Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Families have a host of fuels to choose from when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the most popular choice in Camden, used by 2,627,206 or 74% of homeowners. The next most popular primary heating fuel for Camden households is Electricity, used by 617,773 homes (17%). The other homes are heated with Heating Oil (5%), Propane (2%), Other (0.4%), and Solar (0.3%).
Camden County Residential Primary Home Heating Fuel (No. of Households)
| Year | Natural Gas | Propane | Electricity | Oil | Wood | Solar | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2,627,206 | 70,406 | 617,773 | 185,324 | 10,688 | 11,798 | 14,006 |
| 2024 | 2,623,428 | 66,233 | 592,186 | 198,050 | 10,223 | 10,926 | 13,381 |
| 2023 | 2,552,593 | 95,605 | 606,537 | 215,314 | 10,749 | 9,388 | 20,755 |
| 2022 | 2,560,329 | 89,511 | 568,299 | 231,690 | 10,054 | 7,925 | 17,145 |
| 2021 | 2,545,038 | 87,258 | 555,363 | 240,765 | 9,820 | 7,643 | 19,506 |
| 2020 | 2,509,666 | 79,338 | 501,738 | 241,254 | 10,094 | 6,464 | 16,414 |
| 2019 | 2,474,295 | 71,419 | 448,114 | 241,742 | 10,368 | 5,284 | 13,323 |
| 2018 | 2,435,183 | 67,930 | 437,888 | 258,889 | 12,069 | 4,626 | 14,313 |
| 2017 | 2,425,008 | 62,490 | 415,119 | 271,265 | 11,994 | 4,801 | 12,938 |
| 2016 | 2,389,530 | 59,916 | 423,650 | 271,179 | 13,466 | 3,212 | 14,924 |
| 2015 | 2,398,744 | 61,082 | 385,792 | 299,222 | 14,398 | 1,781 | 12,721 |
| 2014 | 2,393,423 | 62,396 | 384,329 | 309,236 | 14,471 | 1,748 | 13,957 |
| 2013 | 2,354,824 | 60,943 | 388,226 | 329,733 | 17,421 | 1,270 | 10,710 |
| 2012 | 2,368,222 | 60,990 | 377,997 | 356,378 | 13,974 | 1,002 | 10,889 |
| 2011 | 2,342,608 | 58,315 | 360,855 | 376,568 | 11,869 | 332 | 7,917 |
| 2010 | 2,344,455 | 63,241 | 343,112 | 392,540 | 11,886 | 325 | 8,439 |
Heating Oil (Fuel Oil) Use in Camden
Oil has become less popular in Camden. In the 6 years since 2019, the number of households using fuel oil decreased from 241,742 to 185,324, a 23% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Camden
Between 2019 and today, the number of houses using propane as the primary space heating fuel dropped from 71,419 to 70,406, a 1% change. Comparing 2019 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel ramped up from 2,474,295 to 2,627,206, a 6% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Camden
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more popular in Camden. Since 2019, the number of homes heating with electricity shot up from 448,114 to 617,773, a 38% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Camden
Solar is the most environmentally friendly of all heating fuels. 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. Currently, 11,798 homes in Camden are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 123% gain from 2019, when 5,284 homes had active solar heating.
Camden County Heating Oil Trends
Last year, Camden County homeowners purchased a total of 7 million gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
Camden’s overall number two heating oil usage fluctuates annually depending on winter temperatures. As the temperature outside dips, homes’ HVAC systems need to burn increasing amounts of fuel oil to keep the house warm inside. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Camden was 33.5°F, which was 4.7°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
Camden County Average Winter Temperature
| Heating Season | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| 2024 - 2025 | 33.5° F |
| 2023 - 2024 | 38.2° F |
Camden County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For Camden homes heating with heating oil, choosing which of the 8 heating oil companies that serve Camden is an important decision.
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 Camden. Full service companies such as or offer households annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic oil delivery and HVAC repair. With an automatic fuel oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s number two heating 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: Also known by the names “COD Fuel” or “Cash Heating Oil” companies, discount oil companies are for families who are looking to save money. With discount oil companies, in return for better prices, you monitor the fuel oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order when you're running low. Some of the 2 Camden cash heating oil companies serving Camden include SJ Fuel South Co Inc and Bottom Dollar Heating Oil.
Camden Oil Company Fast Facts: Oil Companies Serving Camden: 8 companies .
Average Number of Camden Households Served per Fuel Oil company : 23166
Camden Heating Oil Delivery Overview
185,324 households in Camden heat their homes with oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Camden temperatures drop as low as 28.8° F each winter. 5.2% of Camden households depend on oil delivery each winter.
2.6% of Camden County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| Camden County Households | Camden County Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 7.1M | 185,324 |
182 Camden Oil Companies Serving The Community
With 169,797,916 gallons of heating oil delivered to Camden families last winter, the Camden community relies on its 182 oil companies to keep warm throughout the winter. 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 Camden, two of the closest terminals are Sunoco in Linden, NJ and Sunoco in Linden, NJ. Then, the truck delivers the number two heating oil to homes and businesses throughout Camden and the surrounding region.
