Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Franklin Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Families have a host of fuels to choose from when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the most common choice in Franklin, used by 40,284,169 or 63% of homeowners. The next most popular primary heating fuel for Franklin households is Electricity, used by 17,850,536 homes (28%). The remaining homes are heated with Propane (5%), Wood (2%), Heating Oil (1%), and Other (1%).
Franklin 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 Franklin
Oil has become less frequently used in Franklin. In the 6 years since 2019, the number of homeowners using fuel oil fell from 1,172,096 to 774,909, a 34% drop.
Number of Households Using Heating Oil in Franklin 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 Franklin
Between 2019 and today, the number of houses using propane as the primary space heating fuel jumped from 3,020,916 to 3,081,795, a 2% change. Comparing 2019 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel increased from 36,840,178 to 40,284,169, a 9% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Franklin
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are increasing in demand in Franklin. Since 2019, the number of homes heating with electricity grew from 13,561,816 to 17,850,536, a 32% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Franklin
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. Now, 10,860 homes in Franklin are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 9% drop from 2019, when 11,917 homes had active solar heating.
Franklin County Heating Oil Trends
Last year, Franklin County homeowners purchased a total of 1 million gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
Franklin’s overall number two heating oil usage changes each year depending on winter temperatures. As the temperature outside dips, homes’ heating systems need to burn more and more number two heating oil to maintain the temperature that the thermostat is set to. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Franklin was 30°F, which was 0.5°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
Franklin County Average Winter Temperature
| Heating Season | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| 2024 - 2025 | 29.7° F |
| 2023 - 2024 | 28.7° F |
Franklin County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For Franklin homes heating with number two heating oil, choosing which of the 5 heating oil companies that serve Franklin can drastically impact the cost of home heating.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who value a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system choose one of the 0 “full-service” oil companies that serve Franklin. 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 heating system 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 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 households who are on a budget. With discount oil companies, in exchange for lower prices, you monitor the oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order when you're running low. Some of the 2 Franklin cash heating oil companies serving Franklin include Suburban Propane and Marble Cliff Oil Co.
Franklin Oil Company By The Numbers: Fuel oil Companies Serving Franklin: 5 companies . Average Number of Franklin Houses Served per Fuel Oil company : 2301
Franklin Heating Oil Delivery Overview
211,698 homes in Franklin heat their homes with number two heating oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Franklin temperatures drop as low as 30° F each winter. 1% of Franklin families rely on heating oil delivery each winter.
0.22% of Franklin County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| Franklin County Households | Franklin County Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 6.8M | 15,254 |
40 Franklin Number Two Heating Oil Companies Go The Distance
With 63,347,966.682 gallons of fuel oil delivered to Franklin houses the last heating season, the Franklin community depends on its 40 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 Franklin, two of the closest terminals are Citgo in Linden, NJ and Citgo in Linden, NJ. Then, the truck delivers the #2 heating oil to residences and companies throughout Franklin and the surrounding area.
