Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Montgomery Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Homes have a host of fuels that can be used when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the most popular choice in Montgomery, used by 40,284,169 or 63% of residents. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for Montgomery 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%).
Montgomery 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 Montgomery
Fuel oil has become decreasing in demand in Montgomery. In the 12 years since 2013, the number of households using oil decreased from 1,470,260 to 774,909, a 47% drop.
Number of Households Using Heating Oil in Montgomery 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 Montgomery
Between 2013 and today, the number of homes using propane as the primary space heating fuel jumped 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 ramped up from 36,700,523 to 40,284,169, a 10% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Montgomery
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more popular in Montgomery. Since 2013, the number of homes heating with electricity shot up from 11,934,916 to 17,850,536, a 50% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Montgomery
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 Montgomery are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 4% drop from 2013, when 11,282 homes had active solar heating.
Montgomery County Heating Oil Trends
Last year, Montgomery County homeowners purchased a total of 1 million gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
Montgomery’s overall fuel oil usage fluctuates annually depending on winter temperatures. As the temperature outside gets colder, homes’ furnaces need to burn additional fuel oil to maintain a constant interior temperature. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Montgomery was 30°F, which was 0.5°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
Montgomery County Average Winter Temperature
| Heating Season | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| 2024 - 2025 | 24.5° F |
| 2023 - 2024 | 24.3° F |
Montgomery County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For Montgomery households heating with heating oil, selecting which of the 3 heating oil companies that serve Montgomery is an important decision.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who prefer a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system select one of the 0 “full-service” oil companies that serve Montgomery. Full service companies such as or offer families annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic fuel oil delivery and furnace repair. With an automatic oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s fuel 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 customers who are looking to save money. With discount oil companies, in exchange for lower prices, you monitor the heating 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 Montgomery cash heating oil companies serving Montgomery include RD Holder Oil Company and Duncan Oil Co.
Montgomery Heating Oil Company By The Numbers: Number two heating oil Companies Serving Montgomery: 3 companies . Average Number of Montgomery Households Served per Heating Oil company : 1902
Montgomery Heating Oil Delivery Overview
211,698 residences in Montgomery heat their homes with heating oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Montgomery temperatures drop as low as 30° F each winter. 1% of Montgomery households depend on heating oil delivery each winter.
0.5% of Montgomery County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| Montgomery County Households | Montgomery County Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 2.7M | 13,800 |
3 Montgomery Oil Companies Homeowners Can Count On
With 63,347,966.682 gallons of heating oil delivered to Montgomery homes during this past winter, the Montgomery community depends on its 3 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 Montgomery, 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 Montgomery and the surrounding area.
