Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Delaware Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Households have a variety of fuels that can be used when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the most common choice in Delaware, used by 40,284,169 or 63% of homeowners. The next most popular primary heating fuel for Delaware residents is Electricity, used by 17,850,536 homes (28%). The rest of the homes are heated with Propane (5%), Wood (2%), Heating Oil (1%), and Other (1%).
Delaware County Residential Primary Home Heating Fuel (in Number of Households)
| Date | Natural Gas | Propane | Electricity | Oil | Wood | Solar | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 40284169 | 3081795 | 17850536 | 774909 | 1083121 | 10860 | 403836 |
| 2024 | 38930705 | 3174414 | 16488724 | 892843 | 979276 | 17062 | 417066 |
| 2023 | 37590944 | 3255196 | 15199404 | 1008409 | 880848 | 22803 | 427844 |
| 2022 | 37151905 | 3221760 | 14587823 | 1065149 | 866531 | 20673 | 438560 |
| 2021 | 37128867 | 3134944 | 14211401 | 1100859 | 903769 | 15657 | 445157 |
| 2020 | 37003382 | 3083444 | 13869204 | 1132851 | 942478 | 13449 | 450995 |
| 2019 | 36840178 | 3020916 | 13561816 | 1172096 | 978933 | 11917 | 457127 |
| 2018 | 36767219 | 2943873 | 13286860 | 1206655 | 1014383 | 11247 | 453770 |
| 2017 | 36733211 | 2903335 | 13055094 | 1235021 | 1047439 | 11038 | 444277 |
| 2016 | 36623358 | 2883233 | 12814934 | 1270071 | 1069881 | 11466 | 436330 |
| 2015 | 36586577 | 2871736 | 12538674 | 1324701 | 1085024 | 12269 | 422257 |
| 2014 | 36648643 | 2877547 | 12236610 | 1394959 | 1100515 | 11920 | 402497 |
| 2013 | 36700523 | 2911451 | 11934916 | 1470260 | 1109606 | 11282 | 384399 |
| 2012 | 36842930 | 2965805 | 11629674 | 1548843 | 1094960 | 10751 | 370550 |
| 2011 | 37027467 | 3013572 | 11342268 | 1639364 | 1055619 | 10419 | 359450 |
| 2010 | 37193755 | 3071292 | 11063784 | 1752123 | 1007864 | 11729 | 360649 |
Heating Oil (Fuel Oil) Use in Delaware
Fuel oil has become less popular in Delaware. In the 13 years since 2012, the number of homeowners using fuel oil dipped from 1,548,843 to 774,909, a 50% drop.
Number of Households Using Heating Oil in Delaware County
| Date | Households |
|---|---|
| 2025-11-11 | 61948 |
| 2025-11-10 | 61953 |
| 2025-11-09 | 61959 |
| 2025-11-08 | 61965 |
| 2025-11-07 | 62013 |
| 2025-11-06 | 62017 |
| 2025-11-05 | 62028 |
| 2025-11-04 | 62038 |
| 2025-11-03 | 62061 |
| 2025-11-02 | 62071 |
| 2025-11-01 | 62078 |
| 2025-10-31 | 62077 |
| 2025-10-30 | 62078 |
| 2025-10-29 | 62079 |
| 2025-10-28 | 62085 |
| 2025-10-27 | 62099 |
| 2025-10-26 | 62119 |
| 2025-10-25 | 62135 |
| 2025-10-24 | 62147 |
| 2025-10-23 | 62155 |
| 2025-10-22 | 62205 |
| 2025-10-21 | 62213 |
| 2025-10-20 | 62220 |
| 2025-10-19 | 62228 |
| 2025-10-18 | 62242 |
| 2025-10-17 | 62249 |
| 2025-10-16 | 62253 |
| 2025-10-15 | 62318 |
| 2025-10-14 | 62386 |
| 2025-10-13 | 62390 |
| 2025-10-12 | 62397 |
| 2025-10-11 | 62411 |
| 2025-10-10 | 62419 |
| 2025-10-09 | 62427 |
| 2025-10-08 | 62434 |
| 2025-10-07 | 62484 |
| 2025-10-06 | 62492 |
| 2025-10-05 | 62508 |
| 2025-10-04 | 62520 |
| 2025-10-03 | 62539 |
| 2025-10-02 | 62554 |
| 2025-10-01 | 62560 |
| 2025-09-30 | 62561 |
| 2025-09-29 | 62562 |
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Delaware
Between 2012 and today, the number of households using propane as the primary space heating fuel jumped from 2,965,805 to 3,081,795, a 4% change. Comparing 2012 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel increased from 36,842,930 to 40,284,169, a 9% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Delaware
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are gaining popularity in Delaware. Since 2012, the number of homes heating with electricity grew from 11,629,674 to 17,850,536, a 53% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Delaware
The most eco-friendly heating option is solar. 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, 10,860 homes in Delaware are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 1% gain from 2012, when 10,751 homes had active solar heating.
Delaware County Heating Oil Trends
Last year, Delaware County homeowners purchased a total of 805,601 gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
Delaware’s overall heating oil use fluctuates from year to year as winter conditions change. As the temperature outside dips, homes’ HVAC systems need to burn more and more fuel oil to maintain the temperature that the thermostat is set to. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Delaware was 30°F, which was 0.5°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
Delaware County Average Winter Temperature
| Heating Season | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| 2024 - 2025 | 29° F |
| 2023 - 2024 | 29° F |
Delaware County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For Delaware households heating with oil, choosing which of the 6 heating oil companies that serve Delaware plays a big role in determining how much money is spent on heating each winter.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who are willing to pay a premium for a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system pick one of the 0 “full-service” oil companies that serve Delaware. Full service companies such as or offer families annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic number two heating oil delivery and furnace repair. With an automatic fuel oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s number two heating 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 referred to as “COD Fuel” or “Cash Heating Oil” companies, discount oil companies are for clients who are on a budget. 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. A few of the 2 Delaware cash heating oil companies serving Delaware include Suburban Propane and Marble Cliff Oil Co.
Delaware Oil Company Fast Facts: Number two heating oil Companies Serving Delaware: 6 companies . Average Number of Delaware Households Served per Heating Oil company : 1272
Delaware Heating Oil Delivery Overview
211,698 residences in Delaware heat their homes with oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Delaware temperatures drop as low as 30° F each winter. 1% of Delaware households depend on number two heating oil delivery each winter.
0.22% of Delaware County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| Delaware County Households | Delaware County Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 5.7M | 12,482 |
23 Delaware Oil Companies You Can Bank On
With 63,347,966.682 gallons of oil delivered to Delaware houses the last heating season, the Delaware community looks to its 23 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 Delaware, two of the closest terminals are Citgo in Linden, NJ and Citgo in Linden, NJ. Then, the truck delivers the oil to residences and companies throughout Delaware and the surrounding vicinity.
