Homeowners have a variety of home heating fuels to choose from. Heating oil is the most popular choice in Middlesex County, used by 539,715 or 38.13% of homes. The 2nd most popular choice for Middlesex County homeowners is natural gas, used by 516,459 homes (36.49%). The remaining homes are heated with electricity (244,511), propane (75,150), wood (23,585), and other fuels (30,431).

Middlesex County Primary Home Heating Fuel Popularity by Number of Households

Fuel	Middlesex County Households	% of Households
Heating Oil	539,715	38.13%
Natural Gas	516,459	36.49%
Electricity	244,511	17.27%
Propane	75,150	5.31%
Wood	23,585	1.67%
Other Fuels	18,400	1.30%
No Fuel	9,314	0.66%
Solar	1,852	0.13%
Coal	865	0.06%

Heating oil (38.13)

Natural gas (36.49)

Electricity (17.27)

Propane (5.31)

Wood (1.67)

Other fuels (1.30)

No fuel (0.66)

Solar (0.13)

Coal (0.06)

#2 Heating Oil (Fuel Oil) Use in Middlesex County

Heating oil has become less popular in Middlesex County. In the 7 years since 2015, the number of heating oil homes fell from 595,244 to 539,715, a 9.33% drop.

Middlesex County Heating Oil Households (2011 - 2022)

Year	Heating Oil Households
2011	654,783
2012	644,340
2013	627,716
2014	613,504
2015	595,244
2016	581,382
2017	574,588
2018	565,439
2019	556,309
2020	551,817
2021	544,406
2022	539,715

Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Middlesex County

Between 2015 and today, the number of homes using propane as the primary space heating fuel rose from 47,460 to 75,150.

Between 2015 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel rose from 454,138 to 516,459.

Electricity use for home heating in Middlesex County

Electric space heating systems are becoming more popular in Middlesex County. Since 2015, the number of homes heating with electricity rose from 210,186 to 244,511, a 16.33% increase.

Solar use for home heating in Middlesex County

Solar is the most environmentally friendly of all space heating fuels. With an “active” solar heating system, liquid is circulated between solar panels on a home’s roof and a heat energy storage tank in the basement.

Currently, 1,852 homes in Middlesex County are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 214.43% increase from 2015, when only 589 homes had installed active solar heating.