Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Cumberland Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Households have a choice of fuels that can be used when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the most common choice in Cumberland, used by 2,627,206 or 74% of residents. The next most popular primary heating fuel for Cumberland families 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%).
Cumberland 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 Cumberland
Heating oil has become less frequently used in Cumberland. In the 5 years since 2020, the number of homeowners using number two heating oil fell from 241,254 to 185,324, a 23% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Cumberland
Between 2020 and today, the number of homes using propane as the primary space heating fuel dipped from 79,338 to 70,406, a 11% change. Comparing 2020 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel rose from 2,509,666 to 2,627,206, a 5% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Cumberland
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are gaining popularity in Cumberland. Since 2020, the number of homes heating with electricity increased from 501,738 to 617,773, a 23% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Cumberland
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. As it stands today, 11,798 homes in Cumberland are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 83% gain from 2020, when 6,464 homes used active solar heating.
Cumberland County Heating Oil Trends
Last year, Cumberland County homeowners purchased a total of 2 million gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
Cumberland’s overall oil use fluctuates from year to year as winter conditions change. As the temperature outside dips, homes’ boilers need to burn additional oil to maintain the temperature that the thermostat is set to. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Cumberland was 33.5°F, which was 4.7°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
Cumberland County Average Winter Temperature
| Heating Season | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| 2024 - 2025 | 33.5° F |
| 2023 - 2024 | 38.2° F |
Cumberland County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For Cumberland homes heating with heating oil, choosing which of the 2 heating oil companies that serve Cumberland can drastically impact the cost of home heating.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who want a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system select one of the 0 “full-service” oil companies that serve Cumberland. Full service companies such as or offer clients annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic oil delivery and HVAC repair. With an automatic number two heating oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s fuel oil consumption and makes deliveries when your tank is running low. The family 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 clients who are looking to save money. With discount oil companies, in return for better prices, you monitor the heating oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order either when the level runs low or just before a major snowstorm. Some of the 2 Cumberland cash heating oil companies serving Cumberland include Bottom Dollar Heating Oil and Pedroni Fuel Co.
Cumberland Fuel Oil Company By The Numbers: Oil Companies Serving Cumberland: 2 companies .
Average Number of Cumberland Households Served per Number Two Heating Oil company : 92662
Cumberland Heating Oil Delivery Overview
185,324 residences in Cumberland heat their homes with number two heating oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Cumberland temperatures drop as low as 28.8° F each winter. 5.2% of Cumberland households depend on fuel oil delivery each winter.
2.6% of Cumberland County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| Cumberland County Households | Cumberland County Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 7.1M | 185,324 |
2 Cumberland Oil Companies Go The Distance
With 169,797,916 gallons of number two heating oil delivered to Cumberland residences last winter, the Cumberland community relies on its 2 oil companies when temperatures dip. 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 Cumberland, 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 Cumberland and the surrounding region.
