Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Wayne Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Families have a variety of fuels to choose from when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the preferred choice in Wayne, used by 4,725,574 or 61% of families. The next most popular primary heating fuel for Wayne homeowners is Electricity, used by 1,365,710 homes (18%). The remaining homes are heated with Heating Oil (14%), Propane (5%), Other (1%), and Wood (1%).
Wayne County Residential Primary Home Heating Fuel (in Number of Households)
| Year | Natural Gas | Propane | Electricity | Oil | Wood | Solar | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 4,725,574 | 377,922 | 1,365,710 | 1,103,323 | 92,054 | 16,434 | 100,232 |
| 2024 | 4,679,558 | 370,910 | 1,292,868 | 1,143,783 | 96,147 | 15,259 | 97,524 |
| 2023 | 4,581,041 | 402,335 | 1,263,700 | 1,212,850 | 100,015 | 11,208 | 104,369 |
| 2022 | 4,542,443 | 400,969 | 1,190,880 | 1,279,260 | 99,080 | 11,314 | 103,810 |
| 2021 | 4,489,009 | 388,311 | 1,118,015 | 1,293,770 | 108,202 | 8,858 | 98,952 |
| 2020 | 4,504,504 | 353,944 | 1,014,730 | 1,343,665 | 111,106 | 8,778 | 89,024 |
| 2019 | 4,519,999 | 319,576 | 911,445 | 1,393,560 | 114,011 | 8,697 | 79,096 |
| 2018 | 4,397,917 | 308,020 | 890,554 | 1,459,976 | 120,159 | 6,022 | 82,621 |
| 2017 | 4,339,349 | 294,973 | 867,925 | 1,496,843 | 122,088 | 5,988 | 77,386 |
| 2016 | 4,227,422 | 273,838 | 860,856 | 1,540,787 | 126,890 | 6,535 | 79,479 |
| 2015 | 4,202,413 | 265,224 | 808,370 | 1,649,860 | 141,016 | 3,120 | 78,999 |
| 2014 | 4,186,666 | 258,775 | 770,577 | 1,752,656 | 145,012 | 2,573 | 76,963 |
| 2013 | 4,074,510 | 259,367 | 764,400 | 1,802,442 | 148,422 | 2,525 | 81,841 |
| 2012 | 4,044,389 | 237,738 | 775,390 | 1,901,118 | 155,603 | 2,168 | 61,429 |
| 2011 | 4,014,222 | 222,634 | 707,016 | 1,979,067 | 143,287 | 2,728 | 63,609 |
| 2010 | 3,961,085 | 227,607 | 676,262 | 2,068,004 | 143,242 | 1,823 | 61,664 |
Heating Oil (Fuel Oil) Use in Wayne
Oil has become decreasing in demand in Wayne. In the 8 years since 2017, the number of homeowners using heating oil decreased from 1,496,843 to 1,103,323, a 26% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Wayne
Between 2017 and today, the number of households using propane as the primary space heating fuel rose from 294,973 to 377,922, a 28% change. Comparing 2017 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel rose from 4,339,349 to 4,725,574, a 9% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Wayne
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more popular in Wayne. Since 2017, the number of homes heating with electricity rose from 867,925 to 1,365,710, a 57% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Wayne
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. As it stands today, 16,434 homes in Wayne are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 174% gain from 2017, when 5,988 homes utilized active solar heating.
Wayne County Heating Oil Trends
Last year, Wayne County homeowners purchased a total of 474,197 gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
Wayne’s overall fuel oil consumption varies annually based on the severity of the winter. As the temperature outside gets colder, homes’ heating systems need to burn additional oil to maintain the temperature that the thermostat is set to. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Wayne was 28.1°F, which was 5.4°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
Wayne County Average Winter Temperature
| Heating Season | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| 2024 - 2025 | 28.1° F |
| 2023 - 2024 | 33.5° F |
Wayne County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For Wayne homeowners heating with heating oil, selecting which of the 5 heating oil companies that serve Wayne 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 choose one of the 0 “full-service” oil companies that serve Wayne. Full service companies such as or offer homeowners annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic number two heating oil delivery and heating system repair. With an automatic oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s fuel 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 families who are looking to save money. With discount oil companies, in exchange for lower 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 Wayne cash heating oil companies serving Wayne include Superior Plus Energy Services Inc Griffith Energy and Main Energy Inc.
Wayne Fuel Oil Company By The Numbers: Oil Companies Serving Wayne: 5 companies .
Average Number of Wayne Homes Served per Heating Oil company : 220665
Wayne Heating Oil Delivery Overview
1,103,323 homes in Wayne heat their homes with heating oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Wayne temperatures drop as low as 22.4° F each winter. 14.2% of Wayne homes are reliant on heating oil delivery each winter.
7% of Wayne County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| Wayne County Households | Wayne County Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 15.6M | 1.1M |
15 Wayne Fuel Oil Companies You Can Bank On
With 664,748,714 gallons of oil delivered to Wayne households the last heating season, the Wayne community relies on its 15 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 Wayne, two of the closest terminals are Sprague in Bridgeport, CT and N.h.term in New Haven, CT. Then, the truck delivers the oil to residences and companies throughout Wayne and the surrounding area.
