Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Madison Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Homes have a choice of fuels that can be used when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the most popular choice in Madison, used by 40,284,169 or 63% of families. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for Madison families 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%).
Madison 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 Madison
Oil has become less frequently used in Madison. In the 9 years since 2016, the number of residents using number two heating oil declined from 1,270,071 to 774,909, a 39% drop.
Number of Households Using Heating Oil in Madison 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 Madison
Between 2016 and today, the number of households using propane as the primary space heating fuel shot up from 2,883,233 to 3,081,795, a 7% change. Comparing 2016 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel ramped up from 36,623,358 to 40,284,169, a 10% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Madison
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are increasing in demand in Madison. Since 2016, the number of homes heating with electricity jumped from 12,814,934 to 17,850,536, a 39% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Madison
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. Currently, 10,860 homes in Madison are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 5% drop from 2016, when 11,466 homes incorporated active solar heating.
Madison County Heating Oil Trends
Last year, Madison County homeowners purchased a total of 13,933 gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
Madison’s overall fuel oil usage changes each year depending on winter temperatures. As the temperature outside dips, homes’ boilers need to burn more and more fuel oil to keep the house warm inside. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Madison was 30°F, which was 0.5°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
Madison County Average Winter Temperature
| Heating Season | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| 2024 - 2025 | 30.2° F |
| 2023 - 2024 | 30.1° F |
Madison County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For Madison homeowners heating with heating oil, choosing which of the 4 heating oil companies that serve Madison is an important decision.
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 Madison. Full service companies such as or offer households annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic oil delivery and heating system repair. With an automatic number two heating oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s fuel oil consumption and makes deliveries when your tank is running low. The client 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 looking to save money. With discount oil companies, in return for better prices, you monitor the number two heating oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order when you're running low. A few of the 2 Madison cash heating oil companies serving Madison include Smart Oil and Suburban Propane.
Madison Fuel Oil Company By The Numbers: Oil Companies Serving Madison: 4 companies . Average Number of Madison Homes Served per Heating Oil company : 22
Madison Heating Oil Delivery Overview
211,698 households in Madison heat their homes with oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Madison temperatures drop as low as 30° F each winter. 1% of Madison homes rely on fuel oil delivery each winter.
0.45% of Madison County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| Madison County Households | Madison County Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 79,877 | 360 |
4 Madison Oil Companies Go The Distance
With 63,347,966.682 gallons of heating oil delivered to Madison families the last heating season, the Madison community relies on its 4 oil companies when temperatures dip. 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 Madison, two of the closest terminals are Citgo in Linden, NJ and Citgo in Linden, NJ. Then, the truck delivers the fuel oil to residences and companies throughout Madison and the surrounding vicinity.
