Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Wayne Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Families have a variety of fuels that can be used when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the most common choice in Wayne, used by 2,796,352 or 52% of residents. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for Wayne households is Electricity, used by 1,447,260 homes (27%). The rest of the homes are heated with Heating Oil (12%), Propane (5%), Wood (2%), and Coal (1%).
Wayne County Residential Primary Home Heating Fuel (No. of Households)
| Year | Natural Gas | Propane | Electricity | Oil | Wood | Solar | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2,796,352 | 282,182 | 1,447,260 | 663,450 | 112,270 | 7,204 | 31,146 |
| 2024 | 2,785,913 | 276,598 | 1,396,275 | 685,083 | 111,416 | 6,155 | 32,085 |
| 2023 | 2,698,411 | 278,621 | 1,389,291 | 717,601 | 111,540 | 6,964 | 44,558 |
| 2022 | 2,710,114 | 282,625 | 1,337,240 | 742,118 | 105,147 | 5,282 | 41,959 |
| 2021 | 2,677,533 | 267,454 | 1,287,322 | 760,867 | 109,832 | 4,867 | 46,436 |
| 2020 | 2,656,062 | 251,472 | 1,254,850 | 776,616 | 113,900 | 4,554 | 41,326 |
| 2019 | 2,634,591 | 235,490 | 1,222,377 | 792,365 | 117,969 | 4,241 | 36,216 |
| 2018 | 2,592,386 | 225,476 | 1,198,450 | 806,761 | 128,110 | 2,197 | 35,172 |
| 2017 | 2,598,275 | 222,650 | 1,158,937 | 790,353 | 127,198 | 2,225 | 35,586 |
| 2016 | 2,551,248 | 209,719 | 1,133,797 | 805,822 | 125,583 | 1,639 | 34,565 |
| 2015 | 2,549,385 | 200,754 | 1,103,995 | 837,082 | 141,835 | 2,117 | 38,034 |
| 2014 | 2,528,694 | 198,296 | 1,087,741 | 858,758 | 148,256 | 1,760 | 36,886 |
| 2013 | 2,516,052 | 195,799 | 1,086,074 | 870,064 | 148,597 | 1,408 | 33,941 |
| 2012 | 2,530,063 | 188,880 | 1,046,982 | 936,674 | 145,089 | 1,484 | 31,494 |
| 2011 | 2,516,883 | 178,387 | 1,019,764 | 973,749 | 137,625 | 1,545 | 28,259 |
| 2010 | 2,530,446 | 177,562 | 997,925 | 993,832 | 126,074 | 597 | 29,423 |
Heating Oil (Fuel Oil) Use in Wayne
Number two heating oil has become decreasing in demand in Wayne. In the 1 years since 2024, the number of homeowners using fuel oil fell from 685,083 to 663,450, a 3% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Wayne
Between 2024 and today, the number of homes using propane as the primary space heating fuel shot up from 276,598 to 282,182, a 2% change. Comparing 2024 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel held steady at 2,796,352, a 0% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Wayne
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more prevalent in Wayne. Since 2024, the number of homes heating with electricity rose from 1,396,275 to 1,447,260, a 4% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Wayne
The most eco-friendly heating option is solar. 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. As it stands today, 7,204 homes in Wayne are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 17% gain from 2024, when 6,155 homes incorporated active solar heating.
Wayne County Heating Oil Trends
Last year, Wayne County homeowners purchased a total of 3 million gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
Wayne’s overall fuel oil consumption fluctuates yearly as winter conditions change. As the temperature outside gets colder, homes’ boilers need to burn increasing amounts of oil to keep the house warm inside. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Wayne was 29.3°F, which was 5.5°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
Wayne County Average Winter Temperature
| Heating Season | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| 2024 - 2025 | 29.3° F |
| 2023 - 2024 | 34.8° F |
Wayne County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For Wayne homes heating with fuel oil, selecting which of the 11 heating oil companies that serve Wayne 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 pick one of the 0 “full-service” oil companies that serve Wayne. 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 fuel oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s number two 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: Also known by the names “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 you're running low. Some of the 2 Wayne cash heating oil companies serving Wayne include W V Tinklepaugh & Son Inc and B&S Oil.
Wayne Number Two Heating Oil Company Fast Facts: Number two heating oil Companies Serving Wayne: 11 companies .
Average Number of Wayne Houses Served per Fuel Oil company : 60314
Wayne Heating Oil Delivery Overview
663,450 homes in Wayne heat their homes with fuel oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Wayne temperatures drop as low as 23.2° F each winter. 12.3% of Wayne families depend on number two heating oil delivery each winter.
6.1% of Wayne County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| Wayne County Households | Wayne County Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 10.7M | 663,450 |
82 Wayne Heating Oil Companies Go The Distance
With 507,486,889 gallons of heating oil delivered to Wayne homeowners last winter, the Wayne community depends on its 82 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 Wayne, two of the closest terminals are Ergon in Newell, PA and Etmt in Blawnox, PA. Then, the truck delivers the fuel oil to residences and companies throughout Wayne and the surrounding region.
