Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Marion Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Homeowners have a variety of fuels to choose from when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the most common choice in Marion, used by 40,284,169 or 63% of households. The next most popular primary heating fuel for Marion homeowners 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%).
Marion 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 Marion
Heating oil has become decreasing in demand in Marion. In the 4 years since 2021, the number of residents using fuel oil decreased from 1,100,859 to 774,909, a 30% drop.
Number of Households Using Heating Oil in Marion 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 Marion
Between 2021 and today, the number of households using propane as the primary space heating fuel dipped from 3,134,944 to 3,081,795, a 2% change. Comparing 2021 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel increased from 37,128,867 to 40,284,169, a 8% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Marion
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more popular in Marion. Since 2021, the number of homes heating with electricity shot up from 14,211,401 to 17,850,536, a 26% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Marion
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 Marion are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 31% drop from 2021, when 15,657 homes had active solar heating.
Marion County Heating Oil Trends
Last year, Marion County homeowners purchased a total of 279,300 gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
Marion’s overall oil usage varies each year depending on winter temperatures. As the temperature outside gets more chilly, homes’ heating systems need to burn additional number two heating oil to maintain the temperature that the thermostat is set to. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Marion was 30°F, which was 0.5°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
Marion County Average Winter Temperature
| Heating Season | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| 2024 - 2025 | 30.1° F |
| 2023 - 2024 | 30° F |
Marion County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For Marion homes heating with fuel oil, selecting which of the 1 heating oil companies that serve Marion makes a big difference.
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 Marion. Full service companies such as or offer homeowners annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic heating oil delivery and boiler repair. With an automatic oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s 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 homeowners who are looking to save money. 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 when the oil gauge dips below a quarter tank. Examples of 1 Marion cash heating oil companies serving Marion include MARION OIL and .
Marion Number Two Heating Oil Company By The Numbers: Number two heating oil Companies Serving Marion: 1 companies . Average Number of Marion Households Served per Number Two Heating Oil company : 441
Marion Heating Oil Delivery Overview
211,698 residences in Marion heat their homes with oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Marion temperatures drop as low as 30° F each winter. 1% of Marion residences depend on heating oil delivery each winter.
0.69% of Marion County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| Marion County Households | Marion County Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 253,940 | 1,752 |
1 Marion Fuel Oil Companies Homeowners Can Count On
With 63,347,966.682 gallons of heating oil delivered to Marion homes during this past winter, the Marion community depends on its 1 oil companies to keep warm throughout the winter. Oil delivery is a two step process: First, an oil truck picks up oil at the nearest bulk fuel terminal (also known as a “rack”). In the case of Marion, 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 Marion and the surrounding vicinity.
