Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Wayne Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Homeowners have a host 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 families is Electricity, used by 1,365,710 homes (18%). The other homes are heated with Heating Oil (14%), Propane (5%), Other (1%), and Wood (1%).
Wayne County Residential Primary Home Heating Fuel (No. 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 less frequently used in Wayne. In the 10 years since 2015, the number of residents using oil fell from 1,649,860 to 1,103,323, a 33% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Wayne
Between 2015 and today, the number of homes using propane as the primary space heating fuel shot up from 265,224 to 377,922, a 42% change. Comparing 2015 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel increased from 4,202,413 to 4,725,574, a 12% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Wayne
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more popular in Wayne. Since 2015, the number of homes heating with electricity ramped up from 808,370 to 1,365,710, a 69% 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 flows between solar panels on a home’s roof and a heat energy storage tank (similar to a hot water heater) in the basement. Today, 16,434 homes in Wayne are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 427% gain from 2015, when 3,120 homes had 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 oil consumption varies each year correlating with how cold it gets each winter. As the temperature outside gets colder, homes’ HVAC systems need to burn increasing amounts of fuel oil to keep the house warm inside. 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 residences heating with fuel oil, selecting which of the 5 heating oil companies that serve Wayne is an important decision.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who value a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system pick one of the 0 “full-service” oil companies that serve Wayne. Full service companies such as or offer families annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic fuel oil delivery and heating system repair. With an automatic fuel oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s 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 known by the names “COD Fuel” or “Cash Heating Oil” companies, discount oil companies are for clients 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 either when the level runs low or just before a major snowstorm. Examples of 2 Wayne cash heating oil companies serving Wayne include Superior Plus Energy Services Inc Griffith Energy and Main Energy Inc.
Wayne Fuel Oil Company Fast Facts: Fuel 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 families in Wayne heat their homes with oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Wayne temperatures drop as low as 22.4° F each winter. 14.2% of Wayne families are reliant on number two 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 Number Two Heating Oil Companies Go The Distance
With 664,748,714 gallons of fuel oil delivered to Wayne residences the last heating season, the Wayne community looks to its 15 oil companies to keep their oil tanks full. 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 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 region.
