Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Orange Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Homes have a variety 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 families 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 56,326 | 59,670 | 38,847 | 98,199 | 32,791 | 1,999 | 4,452 |
| 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
Heating oil has become less popular in Orange. In the 9 years since 2016, the number of households using heating oil declined from 106,498 to 99,824, a 6% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Orange
Between 2016 and today, the number of homes using propane as the primary space heating fuel grew from 42,621 to 57,954, a 36% change. Comparing 2016 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel shot up from 46,388 to 55,373, a 19% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Orange
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are increasing in demand in Orange. Since 2016, the number of homes heating with electricity jumped from 14,097 to 36,366, a 158% 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 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. Now, 1,820 homes in Orange are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 219% gain from 2016, when 571 homes utilized 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 oil consumption varies yearly primarily depending on how cold each winter is. As the temperature outside gets more chilly, homes’ heating systems need to burn increasing amounts of 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 families heating with fuel oil, choosing which of the 4 heating oil companies that serve Orange plays a big role in determining how much money is spent on heating each winter.
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 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 boiler repair. With an automatic oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s number two heating 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 customers who are on a budget. With discount oil companies, in return for better 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. Some of the 2 Orange cash heating oil companies serving Orange include Vermont Fuel Efficiency Inc and Packard Fuels LLC.
Orange Number Two Heating Oil Company Fast Facts: Fuel oil Companies Serving Orange: 4 companies .
Average Number of Orange Households Served per Number Two Heating Oil company : 24956
Orange Heating Oil Delivery Overview
99,824 homes 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 houses rely on fuel 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 Fuel Oil Companies Homeowners Can Count On
With 92,108,924 gallons of number two heating oil delivered to Orange households the last heating season, the Orange community relies on 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 area.
