How New Jersey Homes Heat: Gas, Electric, Oil and Propane by County and Town

Quick answer: According to U.S. Census American Community Survey estimates for 2020 to 2024, natural gas heats most homes in all four counties we serve: 78% in Ocean, 81% in Monmouth, 70% in Burlington and 79% in Middlesex, against 73% statewide. Fuel varies a lot by town, though. Woodland, Springfield Township and Lakehurst rely heavily on oil, while New Hanover, Manchester and Plainsboro have high shares of electric heat. Your current fuel shapes which repairs and upgrades make sense. See furnace and heat pump installation.

"What's the best heating system?" depends a lot on what's available in your neighborhood. This article uses Census data to show how homes heat across our service area, and what that means for homeowners in each kind of town.

How the counties compare

Monmouth County relies most on gas. Burlington County has the most mixed picture, with the highest shares of electric heat and oil among the four. See the county pages for Ocean, Monmouth, Burlington and Middlesex.

Towns with the highest oil heat

Oil tends to appear in rural areas and older neighborhoods. If you heat with oil, see oil to gas conversion, gas vs oil furnace and propane or oil vs heat pump.

Towns with the highest electric heat

"Electric heat" can mean very different things. It might be a modern heat pump, or it might be older baseboard or electric furnace heat, which usually costs more to run. The Census doesn't separate these. Apartments, condominiums and planned communities often account for high shares. See heat pumps in New Jersey winters and lower your heating and cooling bills.

Towns with the most propane

Propane is less common, but it matters in rural areas where gas lines don't reach:

• Springfield Township: 20%
• Woodland: 18%
• Southampton: 9%
• Plumsted: 8%

See Pine Barrens homes: heating and cooling.

Towns that rely most on natural gas

Many shore and suburban towns rely heavily on gas:

• Manasquan: 91%
• Spring Lake: 90%
• Point Pleasant: 88%
• Fair Haven: 86%
• Toms River: 85%
• Jackson: 83%
• Brick: 82%

In these places, gas furnaces, gas boilers and gas water heaters are common, and dual fuel can be a practical option. See high-efficiency furnaces, dual fuel systems and boiler replacement.

What your fuel means for your next system

If you heat with natural gas

• A high-efficiency furnace or boiler is the usual replacement path
• A heat pump or dual fuel system can make sense, especially when your AC is due
• Yearly safety checks and CO alarms are essential

If you heat with oil

• Check whether gas is available on your street
• Compare conversion costs, including any old tank work
• Consider a heat pump, keeping your oil system as backup or replacing it fully

If you heat with propane

• Heat pumps and high-efficiency equipment often make a strong case
• Dual fuel can reduce how much propane you burn
• Combi boilers and tankless water heaters need the correct gas setup

If you have electric resistance heat

• A heat pump usually uses far less electricity for the same heat
• Ductless mini-splits suit homes with baseboard heaters and no ducts
• Older electric panels may need checking first

See ductless mini-splits, cold-climate heat pumps and what affects heat pump installation cost.

Fuel and home age together

Fuel and age are connected. Older towns such as Riverside and Burlington City often have boilers and radiators, while rural towns may have oil or propane furnaces on large lots. See how old homes are in each town.

How to read these numbers

• They're estimates from a survey, with larger margins of error in small towns such as Woodland.
• They count occupied homes and the primary fuel reported, not every appliance.
• Percentages may not add up to 100, because of rounding and other fuels such as wood.
• They don't tell you about gas on your street. Ask your utility.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020 to 2024 5-year estimates.

What this means county by county

Ocean County is mostly gas, at 78%. The major exceptions are inland. Lakehurst and Plumsted have far more oil than the county's 4%, and Manchester has 47% electric heat, well above the county's 15%. Toms River and Brick are strongly gas, at 85% and 82%. Shore towns add salt air and seasonal use to the decision.

Monmouth County has the highest gas share, at 81%. Oil shows up in Upper Freehold (17%) and Colts Neck (11%), which have more rural land. Electric heat is highest in some shore and denser towns, including Monmouth Beach (36%), Highlands (33%) and Asbury Park (32%), where apartments and condominiums can be common.

Burlington County has the widest spread of any county we serve. Its gas share is 70% overall, but Woodland is at just 1%, with 61% oil and 18% propane. Springfield Township, Southampton and North Hanover all have gas shares below 30%. That's why heat pump and fuel comparisons here should always start with what's really available at your address.

Middlesex County is 79% gas, but Plainsboro (42%), New Brunswick (34%) and Monroe Township (31%) have much higher electric shares than the county's 15%. Apartment and condominium buildings often need different solutions from single-family homes.

Why this matters when something breaks

When a heating system fails in January, your options depend on your fuel. A gas furnace can often be replaced quickly. Converting from oil takes more planning, since gas service, venting and the old tank all come into play. Keeping your fuel may be the right short-term answer in an emergency, and a planned change may make sense later. It's easier to compare when you aren't in a hurry, so ask for an estimate before your system gives out.

Before you decide on anything, check your last year of energy bills, since they're the best guide to your own costs.

Why homeowners choose us

We're family-owned and veteran-owned, and our own licensed team does the work, never subcontractors. You get same day service, a 24/7 emergency line, upfront pricing with no hidden fees, and service on every brand.

Heating help, whatever your fuel

We work on gas furnaces, gas boilers, heat pumps and water heaters across all 153 towns in Ocean, Monmouth, Burlington and Middlesex counties. Check your town page for local data, then talk to us about the best option for your home.

Book online or call (732) 779-7106 for a free written estimate on a new system, or same day repair. Save $500 on a new system (terms apply).