Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Middlesex Home Heating Fuel Comparison

Families have a host of fuels to choose from when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the most common choice in Middlesex, used by 2,627,206 or 74% of residents. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for Middlesex households 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%).

Middlesex 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 Middlesex

Oil has become losing popularity in Middlesex. In the 2 years since 2023, the number of families using number two heating oil dropped from 215,314 to 185,324, a 14% drop.

Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Middlesex

Between 2023 and today, the number of houses 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 increased from 2,552,593 to 2,627,206, a 3% change.

Electricity use for home heating in Middlesex

Electric heat pump systems for home heating are increasing in demand in Middlesex. Since 2023, the number of homes heating with electricity jumped from 606,537 to 617,773, a 2% change.

Adoption of solar home heating systems in Middlesex

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 Middlesex are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 26% gain from 2023, when 9,388 homes utilized active solar heating.

Middlesex County Heating Oil Trends

Last year, Middlesex County homeowners purchased a total of 8 million gallons of heating oil.

Short Term Trends

Middlesex’s overall oil consumption fluctuates from year to year as winter conditions change. As the temperature outside gets colder, homes’ heating systems need to burn increasing amounts of number two heating oil to keep the house warm inside. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Middlesex was 33.5°F, which was 4.7°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.

Middlesex County Average Winter Temperature

Heating Season	Average Temperature
2024 - 2025	33.5° F
2023 - 2024	38.2° F

Middlesex County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company

For Middlesex households heating with oil, picking which of the 35 heating oil companies that serve Middlesex is an important decision.

Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who can afford a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system choose one of the 39 “full-service” oil companies that serve Middlesex. Full service companies such as Skylands Energy Service or Skylands Energy Service offer families annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic fuel oil delivery and HVAC repair. With an automatic heating oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s 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: Often called “COD Fuel” or “Cash Heating Oil” companies, discount oil companies are for households who are on a budget. With discount oil companies, in return for better prices, you monitor the heating oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order when you're running low. Some of the 2 Middlesex cash heating oil companies serving Middlesex include Jacquar Fuel Oil and K W Rastall Inc.

Middlesex Number Two Heating Oil Company Fast Facts: Fuel oil Companies Serving Middlesex: 35 companies .
Average Number of Middlesex Houses Served per Fuel Oil company : 5295

Middlesex Heating Oil Delivery Overview

185,324 houses in Middlesex heat their homes with fuel oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Middlesex temperatures drop as low as 28.8° F each winter. 5.2% of Middlesex households are reliant on number two heating oil delivery each winter.

2.6% of Middlesex County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter

Middlesex County Households	Middlesex County Heating Oil Households
7.1M	185,324

451 Middlesex Number Two Heating Oil Companies Homeowners Can Count On

With 169,797,916 gallons of oil delivered to Middlesex homes last winter, the Middlesex community depends on its 451 oil companies to keep warm throughout the winter. Oil delivery has two parts to it: 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 Sunoco in Linden, NJ and Sunoco in Linden, NJ. Then, the truck delivers the oil to residences and companies throughout Middlesex and the surrounding region.