Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Hamilton Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Homes have a host of fuels to choose from when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the preferred choice in Hamilton, used by 40,284,169 or 63% of homeowners. The next most popular primary heating fuel for Hamilton households is Electricity, used by 17,850,536 homes (28%). The other homes are heated with Propane (5%), Wood (2%), Heating Oil (1%), and Other (1%).
Hamilton 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 Hamilton
Number two heating oil has become losing popularity in Hamilton. In the 8 years since 2017, the number of households using heating oil dropped from 1,235,021 to 774,909, a 37% drop.
Number of Households Using Heating Oil in Hamilton 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 Hamilton
Between 2017 and today, the number of households using propane as the primary space heating fuel rose from 2,903,335 to 3,081,795, a 6% change. Comparing 2017 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel ramped up from 36,733,211 to 40,284,169, a 10% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Hamilton
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are gaining popularity in Hamilton. Since 2017, the number of homes heating with electricity increased from 13,055,094 to 17,850,536, a 37% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Hamilton
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. Today, 10,860 homes in Hamilton are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 2% drop from 2017, when 11,038 homes used active solar heating.
Hamilton County Heating Oil Trends
Last year, Hamilton County homeowners purchased a total of 3 million gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
Hamilton’s overall oil consumption changes each year depending on winter temperatures. As the temperature outside gets more chilly, homes’ heating systems need to burn additional fuel oil to maintain a constant interior temperature. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Hamilton was 30°F, which was 0.5°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
Hamilton County Average Winter Temperature
| Heating Season | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| 2024 - 2025 | 29.5° F |
| 2023 - 2024 | 29.8° F |
Hamilton County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For Hamilton families heating with oil, picking which of the 8 heating oil companies that serve Hamilton 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 choose one of the 0 “full-service” oil companies that serve Hamilton. Full service companies such as or offer clients annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic heating oil delivery and boiler repair. With an automatic number two heating oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s heating oil consumption and makes deliveries when your tank is running low. The family 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 homeowners who are on a budget. With discount oil companies, in return for better prices, you monitor the fuel 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 Hamilton cash heating oil companies serving Hamilton include Arnolds Marathon and Adams Heating & Cooling.
Hamilton Oil Company By The Numbers: Fuel oil Companies Serving Hamilton: 8 companies . Average Number of Hamilton Homes Served per Number Two Heating Oil company : 4917
Hamilton Heating Oil Delivery Overview
211,698 residences in Hamilton heat their homes with oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Hamilton temperatures drop as low as 30° F each winter. 1% of Hamilton houses depend on heating oil delivery each winter.
0.61% of Hamilton County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| Hamilton County Households | Hamilton County Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 4.8M | 29,782 |
28 Hamilton Fuel Oil Companies You Can Bank On
With 63,347,966.682 gallons of fuel oil delivered to Hamilton families the last heating season, the Hamilton community looks to its 28 oil companies to keep their oil tanks full. 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 Hamilton, two of the closest terminals are Citgo in Linden, NJ and Citgo in Linden, NJ. Then, the truck delivers the oil to homes and businesses throughout Hamilton and the surrounding area.
