Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Salem Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Residences have a choice of fuels to choose from when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the preferred choice in Salem, used by 2,627,206 or 74% of residents. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for Salem households 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%).
Salem 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 Salem
Heating oil has become less popular in Salem. In the 9 years since 2016, the number of families using heating oil fell from 271,179 to 185,324, a 32% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Salem
Between 2016 and today, the number of homes using propane as the primary space heating fuel shot up from 59,916 to 70,406, a 18% change. Comparing 2016 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel jumped from 2,389,530 to 2,627,206, a 10% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Salem
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more popular in Salem. Since 2016, the number of homes heating with electricity grew from 423,650 to 617,773, a 46% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Salem
Solar is the most environmentally friendly of all heating fuels. 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. Now, 11,798 homes in Salem are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 267% gain from 2016, when 3,212 homes used 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 heating oil use changes from year to year primarily depending on how cold each winter is. As the temperature outside dips, homes’ HVAC systems need to burn more and more 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 homeowners heating with fuel oil, picking which of the 2 heating oil companies that serve Salem makes a big difference.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who can afford a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system choose one of the 0 “full-service” oil companies that serve Salem. Full service companies such as or offer households annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic number two heating oil delivery and HVAC repair. With an automatic fuel oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s oil consumption and makes deliveries when your tank is running low. The client 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 families who are budget-conscious. With discount oil companies, in exchange for lower prices, you monitor the 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 Salem cash heating oil companies serving Salem include Bottom Dollar Heating Oil and Ross Fogg Fuel Oil Co Inc.
Salem Oil Company By The Numbers: Oil Companies Serving Salem: 2 companies .
Average Number of Salem Households Served per Heating Oil company : 92662
Salem Heating Oil Delivery Overview
185,324 families in Salem heat their homes with fuel oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Salem temperatures drop as low as 28.8° F each winter. 5.2% of Salem homes depend 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 Heating Oil Companies Go The Distance
With 169,797,916 gallons of number two heating oil delivered to Salem homeowners last winter, the Salem community relies on its 2 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 Salem, 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 Salem and the surrounding region.
