Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Salem Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Families have a variety of fuels that can be used when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the most common choice in Salem, used by 2,627,206 or 74% of residents. The next most popular primary heating fuel for Salem homeowners 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%).
Salem 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 Salem
Oil has become losing popularity in Salem. In the 5 years since 2020, the number of residents using fuel oil dipped from 241,254 to 185,324, a 23% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Salem
Between 2020 and today, the number of homes using propane as the primary space heating fuel decreased 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 ramped up from 2,509,666 to 2,627,206, a 5% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Salem
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are increasing in demand in Salem. Since 2020, the number of homes heating with electricity shot up from 501,738 to 617,773, a 23% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Salem
Out of all fuels, solar is the safest for the environment. 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 Salem are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 83% gain from 2020, when 6,464 homes had active solar heating.
Salem County Heating Oil Trends
Last year, Salem County homeowners purchased a total of 1 million gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
Salem’s overall number two heating oil consumption changes from year to year depending on winter temperatures. As the temperature outside dips, homes’ furnaces need to burn increasing amounts of number two heating oil to keep the house warm inside. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Salem was 33.5°F, which was 4.7°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
Salem County Average Winter Temperature
| Heating Season | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| 2024 - 2025 | 33.5° F |
| 2023 - 2024 | 38.2° F |
Salem County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For Salem families heating with heating oil, selecting which of the 2 heating oil companies that serve Salem makes a big difference.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who are willing to pay a premium for a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system select one of the 0 “full-service” oil companies that serve Salem. Full service companies such as or offer homeowners annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic heating oil delivery and HVAC repair. With an automatic 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 household 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 households who are looking to save money. With discount oil companies, in exchange for lower prices, you monitor the number two heating oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order either when the level runs low or just before a major snowstorm. Examples of 2 Salem cash heating oil companies serving Salem include Bottom Dollar Heating Oil and Ross Fogg Fuel Oil Co Inc.
Salem Fuel Oil Company Fast Facts: Fuel oil Companies Serving Salem: 2 companies .
Average Number of Salem Households Served per Number Two Heating Oil company : 92662
Salem Heating Oil Delivery Overview
185,324 houses in Salem heat their homes with heating oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Salem temperatures drop as low as 28.8° F each winter. 5.2% of Salem residences rely on oil delivery each winter.
2.6% of Salem County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| Salem County Households | Salem County Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 7.1M | 185,324 |
2 Salem Fuel Oil Companies You Can Bank On
With 169,797,916 gallons of number two heating oil delivered to Salem homes during this past winter, the Salem community relies on its 2 oil companies when temperatures dip. 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 Salem, two of the closest terminals are Sunoco in Linden, NJ and Sunoco in Linden, NJ. Then, the truck delivers the number two heating oil to residences and companies throughout Salem and the surrounding area.
