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

Families have a host of fuels that can be used when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the most popular choice in Monmouth, used by 2,627,206 or 74% of families. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for Monmouth families is Electricity, used by 617,773 homes (17%). The remaining homes are heated with Heating Oil (5%), Propane (2%), Other (0.4%), and Solar (0.3%).

Monmouth County Residential Primary Home Heating Fuel (in Number of Households)

YearNatural GasPropaneElectricityOilWoodSolarOther
20252,627,20670,406617,773185,32410,68811,79814,006
20242,623,42866,233592,186198,05010,22310,92613,381
20232,552,59395,605606,537215,31410,7499,38820,755
20222,560,32989,511568,299231,69010,0547,92517,145
20212,545,03887,258555,363240,7659,8207,64319,506
20202,509,66679,338501,738241,25410,0946,46416,414
20192,474,29571,419448,114241,74210,3685,28413,323
20182,435,18367,930437,888258,88912,0694,62614,313
20172,425,00862,490415,119271,26511,9944,80112,938
20162,389,53059,916423,650271,17913,4663,21214,924
20152,398,74461,082385,792299,22214,3981,78112,721
20142,393,42362,396384,329309,23614,4711,74813,957
20132,354,82460,943388,226329,73317,4211,27010,710
20122,368,22260,990377,997356,37813,9741,00210,889
20112,342,60858,315360,855376,56811,8693327,917
20102,344,45563,241343,112392,54011,8863258,439

Heating Oil (Fuel Oil) Use in Monmouth

Oil has become less popular in Monmouth. In the 4 years since 2021, the number of households using number two heating oil decreased from 240,765 to 185,324, a 23% drop.

Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Monmouth

Between 2021 and today, the number of homes using propane as the primary space heating fuel dropped from 87,258 to 70,406, a 19% change. Comparing 2021 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel grew from 2,545,038 to 2,627,206, a 3% change.

Electricity use for home heating in Monmouth

Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more popular in Monmouth. Since 2021, the number of homes heating with electricity increased from 555,363 to 617,773, a 11% change.

Adoption of solar home heating systems in Monmouth

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. Now, 11,798 homes in Monmouth are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 54% gain from 2021, when 7,643 homes incorporated active solar heating.

Monmouth County Heating Oil Trends

Last year, Monmouth County homeowners purchased a total of 6 million gallons of heating oil.

Short Term Trends

Monmouth’s overall heating oil usage changes from year to year depending on winter temperatures. As the temperature outside gets more chilly, homes’ boilers need to burn additional number two heating oil to keep the house warm inside. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Monmouth was 33.5°F, which was 4.7°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.

Monmouth County Average Winter Temperature

Heating SeasonAverage Temperature
2024 - 202533.5° F
2023 - 202438.2° F

Monmouth County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company

For Monmouth households heating with oil, choosing which of the 15 heating oil companies that serve Monmouth plays a big role in determining how much money is spent on heating each winter.

Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who can afford a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system pick one of the 98 “full-service” oil companies that serve Monmouth. Full service companies such as Lawes Home Comfort or Globe Petroleum offer families annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic heating oil delivery and boiler repair. With an automatic number two heating oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s 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 customers who are looking to save money. With discount oil companies, in exchange for lower prices, you monitor the fuel oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order when the oil gauge dips below a quarter tank. Some of the 2 Monmouth cash heating oil companies serving Monmouth include Jacquar Fuel Oil and Globe Discount.

Monmouth Number Two Heating Oil Company Statistics: Oil Companies Serving Monmouth: 15 companies .
Average Number of Monmouth Houses Served per Heating Oil company : 12355

Monmouth Heating Oil Delivery Overview

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

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

Monmouth County HouseholdsMonmouth County Heating Oil Households
7.1M185,324

371 Monmouth Heating Oil Companies You Can Trust

With 169,797,916 gallons of heating oil delivered to Monmouth residences during this past winter, the Monmouth community looks to its 371 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 Monmouth, two of the closest terminals are Sunoco in Linden, NJ and Sunoco in Linden, NJ. Then, the truck delivers the fuel oil to residences and companies throughout Monmouth and the surrounding region.