Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Orange Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Residences have a host of fuels to choose from when it comes to heating. Heating Oil is the most popular choice in Orange, used by 99,824 or 35% of households. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for Orange households 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 (No. 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
Oil has become losing popularity in Orange. In the 2 years since 2023, the number of homeowners using fuel oil dipped from 102,091 to 99,824, a 2% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Orange
Between 2023 and today, the number of houses using propane as the primary space heating fuel jumped from 54,853 to 57,954, a 6% change. Comparing 2023 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel jumped from 48,131 to 55,373, a 15% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Orange
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are gaining popularity in Orange. Since 2023, the number of homes heating with electricity increased from 27,940 to 36,366, a 30% 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 9% gain from 2023, when 1,670 homes incorporated 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 heating oil consumption changes yearly as winter conditions change. As the temperature outside gets colder, homes’ furnaces need to burn additional heating oil to maintain the temperature that the thermostat is set to. 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 residences heating with number two heating oil, picking which of the 4 heating oil companies that serve Orange can drastically impact the cost of home heating.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who want 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 households annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic oil delivery and heating system 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 household 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 clients who are budget-conscious. With discount oil companies, in exchange for lower prices, you monitor the heating oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order when you're running low. Some of the 2 Orange cash heating oil companies serving Orange include Vermont Fuel Efficiency and Packard Fuels LLC.
Orange Oil Company Fast Facts: Heating oil Companies Serving Orange: 4 companies .
Average Number of Orange Homes Served per Heating Oil company : 24956
Orange Heating Oil Delivery Overview
99,824 houses in Orange heat their homes with number two heating oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Orange temperatures drop as low as 12.6° F each winter. 34.6% of Orange homes are reliant on number two 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 Number Two Heating Oil Companies Homeowners Can Count On
With 92,108,924 gallons of number two heating oil delivered to Orange families the last heating season, the Orange community looks to its 28 oil companies to keep their oil tanks full. 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 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.
