Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Orange Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Homes have a host of fuels that can be used when it comes to heating. Heating Oil is the preferred choice in Orange, used by 99,824 or 35% of families. The next most popular primary heating fuel for Orange residents is Propane, used by 57,954 homes (20%). The other homes are heated with Natural Gas (19%), Electricity (13%), Wood (11%), and Other (2%).
Orange County Residential Primary Home Heating Fuel (in Number of Households)
| Year | Natural Gas | Propane | Electricity | Oil | Wood | Solar | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 55,373 | 57,954 | 36,366 | 99,824 | 33,030 | 1,820 | 4,366 |
| 2024 | 56,646 | 56,523 | 33,651 | 101,281 | 30,344 | 1,660 | 4,241 |
| 2023 | 48,131 | 54,853 | 27,940 | 102,091 | 38,497 | 1,670 | 4,784 |
| 2022 | 50,240 | 51,520 | 24,105 | 105,894 | 36,184 | 1,106 | 6,886 |
| 2021 | 50,677 | 51,992 | 22,510 | 105,005 | 33,125 | 1,349 | 4,533 |
| 2020 | 49,752 | 50,131 | 19,616 | 106,832 | 33,799 | 948 | 4,630 |
| 2019 | 48,826 | 48,270 | 16,723 | 108,658 | 34,473 | 547 | 4,727 |
| 2018 | 47,328 | 44,423 | 14,122 | 108,961 | 40,731 | 819 | 3,930 |
| 2017 | 47,036 | 43,339 | 14,035 | 107,395 | 38,840 | 612 | 3,997 |
| 2016 | 46,388 | 42,621 | 14,097 | 106,498 | 39,455 | 571 | 3,822 |
| 2015 | 45,256 | 40,280 | 12,610 | 108,532 | 42,271 | 263 | 4,298 |
| 2014 | 43,091 | 38,116 | 11,250 | 115,387 | 43,828 | 179 | 4,258 |
| 2013 | 42,192 | 38,339 | 11,779 | 111,011 | 44,411 | 257 | 3,630 |
| 2012 | 41,601 | 38,497 | 12,532 | 114,708 | 46,051 | 206 | 3,749 |
| 2011 | 39,163 | 39,551 | 10,855 | 122,786 | 41,261 | 98 | 2,834 |
| 2010 | 41,357 | 35,529 | 13,667 | 122,832 | 38,777 | 122 | 3,182 |
Heating Oil (Fuel Oil) Use in Orange
Number two heating oil has become less frequently used in Orange. In the 13 years since 2012, the number of homeowners using heating oil fell from 114,708 to 99,824, a 13% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Orange
Between 2012 and today, the number of homes using propane as the primary space heating fuel ramped up from 38,497 to 57,954, a 51% change. Comparing 2012 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel jumped from 41,601 to 55,373, a 33% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Orange
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are gaining popularity in Orange. Since 2012, the number of homes heating with electricity shot up from 12,532 to 36,366, a 190% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Orange
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, 1,820 homes in Orange are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 783% gain from 2012, when 206 homes used active solar heating.
Orange County Heating Oil Trends
Last year, Orange County homeowners purchased a total of 1 million gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
Orange’s overall fuel oil consumption fluctuates annually based on the severity of the winter. As the temperature outside dips, homes’ boilers need to burn more and more oil to keep the house warm inside. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Orange was 20.4°F, which was 6.4°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
Orange County Average Winter Temperature
| Heating Season | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| 2024 - 2025 | 20.4° F |
| 2023 - 2024 | 26.8° F |
Orange County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For Orange homes heating with fuel oil, selecting which of the 4 heating oil companies that serve Orange is an important decision.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who prefer a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system select one of the 7 “full-service” oil companies that serve Orange. Full service companies such as Packard Fuels or Packard Fuels offer families annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic oil delivery and boiler 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 client 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 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 the oil gauge dips below a quarter tank. A few of the 2 Orange cash heating oil companies serving Orange include Vermont Fuel Efficiency and Packard Fuels LLC.
Orange Oil Company By The Numbers: Fuel oil Companies Serving Orange: 4 companies .
Average Number of Orange Households Served per Heating Oil company : 24956
Orange Heating Oil Delivery Overview
99,824 families in Orange heat their homes with heating oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Orange temperatures drop as low as 12.6° F each winter. 34.6% of Orange residences depend on heating oil delivery each winter.
17.2% of Orange County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| Orange County Households | Orange County Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 579,101 | 99,824 |
28 Orange Heating Oil Companies You Can Bank On
With 92,108,924 gallons of heating oil delivered to Orange homes last winter, the Orange community depends on its 28 oil companies when temperatures dip. 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 Orange, two of the closest terminals are Sprague in Newington, NH and Apex in Rensselaer, NY. Then, the truck delivers the number two heating oil to residences and companies throughout Orange and the surrounding vicinity.
