Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Madison Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Residences have a choice of fuels that can be used when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the most common choice in Madison, used by 40,284,169 or 63% of families. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for Madison 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%).
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
Fuel oil has become decreasing in demand in Madison. In the 12 years since 2013, the number of residents using heating oil dropped from 1,470,260 to 774,909, a 47% 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 2013 and today, the number of homes using propane as the primary space heating fuel rose from 2,911,451 to 3,081,795, a 6% change. Comparing 2013 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel grew from 36,700,523 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 2013, the number of homes heating with electricity rose from 11,934,916 to 17,850,536, a 50% 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 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. Now, 10,860 homes in Madison are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 4% drop from 2013, when 11,282 homes used 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 heating oil consumption fluctuates annually correlating with how cold it gets each winter. As the temperature outside gets more chilly, homes’ heating systems need to burn additional fuel oil to maintain the temperature that the thermostat is set to. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Madison was 30.3°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 homes heating with number two heating oil, picking which of the 4 heating oil companies that serve Madison plays a big role in determining how much money is spent on heating each winter.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who can afford a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system select one of the 0 “full-service” oil companies that serve Madison. Full service companies such as or offer customers annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic fuel oil delivery and furnace 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 customer does not need to monitor the level of the oil tank or place individual orders.
Discount Oil Companies: Often called “COD Fuel” or “Cash Heating Oil” companies, discount oil companies are for households who are on a budget. With discount oil companies, in return for better prices, you monitor the 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 Madison cash heating oil companies serving Madison include Smart Oil and Suburban Propane.
Madison Oil Company Statistics: Oil Companies Serving Madison: 4 companies . Average Number of Madison Houses Served per Fuel Oil company : 22
Madison Heating Oil Delivery Overview
211,698 homes in Madison heat their homes with fuel oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Madison temperatures drop as low as 30° F each winter. 1% of Madison houses rely on heating 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 Number Two Heating Oil Companies You Can Bank On
With 63,347,966.682 gallons of oil delivered to Madison households the last heating season, the Madison community looks to its 4 oil companies to keep warm throughout the winter. 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 Madison, 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 Madison and the surrounding area.
