Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Camden Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Families have a choice of fuels to choose from when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the most common choice in Camden, used by 2,627,206 or 74% of residents. The next most popular primary heating fuel for Camden residents is Electricity, used by 617,773 homes (17%). The rest of the homes are heated with Heating Oil (5%), Propane (2%), Other (0.4%), and Solar (0.3%).
Camden County Residential Primary Home Heating Fuel (in Number 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
Fuel oil has become less frequently used in Camden. In the 7 years since 2018, the number of homeowners using fuel oil decreased from 258,889 to 185,324, a 28% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Camden
Between 2018 and today, the number of households using propane as the primary space heating fuel shot up from 67,930 to 70,406, a 4% change. Comparing 2018 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel grew from 2,435,183 to 2,627,206, a 8% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Camden
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are increasing in demand in Camden. Since 2018, the number of homes heating with electricity rose from 437,888 to 617,773, a 41% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Camden
The most eco-friendly heating option is solar. 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. Now, 11,798 homes in Camden are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 155% gain from 2018, when 4,626 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 fuel oil consumption varies annually as winter conditions change. As the temperature outside dips, homes’ furnaces need to burn additional heating 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 families heating with number two heating oil, selecting which of the 8 heating oil companies that serve Camden is an important decision.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who value a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system choose 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 heating oil delivery and furnace 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 homeowner 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. Examples of 2 Camden cash heating oil companies serving Camden include SJ Fuel South Co Inc and Bottom Dollar Heating Oil.
Camden Number Two Heating 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 families in Camden heat their homes with number two heating oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Camden temperatures drop as low as 28.8° F each winter. 5.2% of Camden families are reliant on fuel 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 Heating Oil Companies Homeowners Can Count On
With 169,797,916 gallons of fuel oil delivered to Camden households during this past winter, the Camden community looks to its 182 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 Camden, two of the closest terminals are Sunoco in Linden, NJ and Sunoco in Linden, NJ. Then, the truck delivers the fuel oil to homes and businesses throughout Camden and the surrounding region.
