Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Hudson Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Residences have a host of fuels to choose from when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the preferred choice in Hudson, used by 2,627,206 or 74% of residents. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for Hudson 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%).
Hudson 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 Hudson
Oil has become decreasing in demand in Hudson. In the 2 years since 2023, the number of households using heating oil dipped from 215,314 to 185,324, a 14% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Hudson
Between 2023 and today, the number of households using propane as the primary space heating fuel fell from 95,605 to 70,406, a 26% change. Comparing 2023 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel grew from 2,552,593 to 2,627,206, a 3% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Hudson
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are increasing in demand in Hudson. Since 2023, the number of homes heating with electricity grew from 606,537 to 617,773, a 2% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Hudson
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. As it stands today, 11,798 homes in Hudson are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 26% gain from 2023, when 9,388 homes used active solar heating.
Hudson County Heating Oil Trends
Last year, Hudson County homeowners purchased a total of 7 million gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
Hudson’s overall oil consumption fluctuates each year based on the severity of the winter. As the temperature outside drops, homes’ furnaces need to burn more and more fuel oil to keep the house warm inside. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Hudson was 33.5°F, which was 4.7°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
Hudson County Average Winter Temperature
| Heating Season | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| 2024 - 2025 | 33.5° F |
| 2023 - 2024 | 38.2° F |
Hudson County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For Hudson households heating with fuel oil, choosing which of the 22 heating oil companies that serve Hudson makes a big difference.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who want a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system pick one of the 0 “full-service” oil companies that serve Hudson. Full service companies such as or offer customers annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic number two heating oil delivery and boiler repair. With an automatic number two 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 customer 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 number two heating oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order when you're running low. Some of the 2 Hudson cash heating oil companies serving Hudson include Deinrich Fuel Oil Inc and National Fuel Oil Inc.
Hudson Fuel Oil Company Fast Facts: Heating oil Companies Serving Hudson: 22 companies .
Average Number of Hudson Households Served per Heating Oil company : 8424
Hudson Heating Oil Delivery Overview
185,324 families in Hudson heat their homes with heating oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Hudson temperatures drop as low as 28.8° F each winter. 5.2% of Hudson houses rely on oil delivery each winter.
2.6% of Hudson County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| Hudson County Households | Hudson County Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 7.1M | 185,324 |
198 Hudson Number Two Heating Oil Companies Homeowners Can Count On
With 169,797,916 gallons of heating oil delivered to Hudson houses during this past winter, the Hudson community looks to its 198 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 Hudson, two of the closest terminals are Sunoco in Linden, NJ and Sunoco in Linden, NJ. Then, the truck delivers the oil to homes and businesses throughout Hudson and the surrounding area.
