How are homes heated in Watchung Borough, NJ?

Name: Heating fuel in Watchung Borough, NJ, 2020–2024
Creator: US Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

Utility gas is the most common heating fuel in Watchung Borough, used by 86.3% (±4.9 points) of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

7.7% heat with electricity.

5.0% heat with fuel oil or kerosene.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Utility gas: 86.3% (±4.9 points)
Electricity: 7.7%
Fuel oil, kerosene: 5.0%

Heating fuel in Watchung Borough

Occupied housing units by house heating fuel, 2020–2024
Fuel used most	Watchung Borough	Somerset County	New Jersey	United States
Utility gas	86.3% (±4.9 points)	78.7%	73.1%	46.5%
Fuel oil, kerosene, etc.	5.0% (±3.1 points)	4.3%	6.4%	3.9%
Electricity	7.7% (±4.5 points)	14.4%	16.2%	41.3%
Bottled or tank gas (propane)	1.0% (±1.6 points)	1.5%	2.4%	4.9%
Wood	0.0% (±1.9 points)	0.2%	0.3%	1.4%
Solar energy	0.0% (±1.9 points)	0.3%	0.2%	0.3%
Coal or coke	0.0% (±1.9 points)	0.0%	0.0%	0.1%
Other fuel	0.0% (±1.9 points)	0.2%	0.5%	0.5%
No fuel used	0.0% (±1.9 points)	0.4%	0.8%	1.2%

The survey asks which fuel is used most to heat the home, so a home with a heat pump and an oil backup is counted once, under the one it uses most.

In Watchung Borough, the share of homes heating with fuel oil is not measurably different from Somerset County (4.3%).

It is not measurably different from New Jersey (6.4%).

It is not measurably different from the national figure (3.9%).

In Watchung Borough, the share of homes heating with electricity is lower than in Somerset County (14.4%).

It is also lower than in New Jersey (16.2%).

It is lower than the national figure (41.3%).

Homes heated by electricity in places near Watchung Borough

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Watchung Borough
Place	Distance	Homes heated by electricity	Compared with this place
Watchung Borough	—	7.7% (±4.5 points)	—
North Plainfield Borough	1.5 mi	9.3% (±3.3 points)	Not measurably different
Plainfield	2.2 mi	17.4% (±3.2 points)	Higher
Berkeley Heights Township	2.4 mi	6.3% (±3.0 points)	Not measurably different
Fanwood Borough	2.7 mi	10.8% (±4.5 points)	Not measurably different
Scotch Plains Township	3.4 mi	8.6% (±4.3 points)	Not measurably different
Green Brook Township	3.7 mi	8.2% (±5.0 points)	Not measurably different
Gillette	3.8 mi	0.9% (±1.4 points)	Lower
Stirling	3.8 mi	7.6% (±6.8 points)	Not measurably different

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Gillette, NJ (0.9%).

Nearby places with a measurably higher figure: Plainfield, NJ (17.4%).

Distance is measured in a straight line between the Census Bureau’s internal points for each place.

Homes heated by fuel oil across Somerset County, place by place

Rank	Place	Homes heated by fuel oil
2	Far Hills Borough	26.7% (±6.6 points)
3	Bernardsville Borough	11.4% (±4.2 points)
4	Rocky Hill Borough	11.3% (±7.3 points)
5	Bedminster Township	10.6% (±2.8 points)
6	Montgomery Township	6.5% (±1.6 points)
7	Hillsborough Township	5.9% (±1.9 points)
8	Watchung Borough	5.0% (±3.1 points)
9	Somerville Borough	4.9% (±1.8 points)
10	Warren Township	3.7% (±1.2 points)
11	Bound Brook Borough	3.3% (±2.0 points)
12 (tie)	Branchburg Township	3.1% (±1.3 points)
12 (tie)	North Plainfield Borough	3.1% (±1.2 points)
12 (tie)	Raritan Borough	3.1% (±1.6 points)

Showing 13 of 21 places in Somerset County, ranked from highest to lowest.

Survey years: 2020–2024 (American Community Survey 5-year estimates).

Margins of error are at the 90% confidence level.

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Questions about Watchung Borough

What is the most common way to heat a home in Watchung Borough?

Utility gas is the most common heating fuel in Watchung Borough, used by 86.3% of occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

How many homes in Watchung Borough heat with oil?

5.0% (±3.1 points) of occupied homes in Watchung Borough use fuel oil or kerosene as their main heating fuel.

How many homes in Watchung Borough have electric heat?

7.7% (±4.5 points) of occupied homes in Watchung Borough heat mainly with electricity, which includes heat pumps.

Sources

Selected Housing Characteristics (DP04), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Watchung borough, Somerset County, New Jersey

To check these figures in the Census Bureau’s own API, request the variables below from the 2024 ACS 5-year data profile (acs/acs5/profile) for Watchung borough, Somerset County, New Jersey (county subdivision:77600, in state:34 county:035).

Each estimate (E or PE) has a margin of error beside it (M or PM).

The API needs a free key.

Request a Census API key.

DP04_0063PE, DP04_0063PM, DP04_0066PE, DP04_0066PM, DP04_0065PE, DP04_0065PM, DP04_0064PE, DP04_0064PM, DP04_0068PE, DP04_0068PM, DP04_0069PE, DP04_0069PM, DP04_0067PE, DP04_0067PM, DP04_0070PE, DP04_0070PM, DP04_0071PE, DP04_0071PM

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.

Figures are published by the US Census Bureau, HUD, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the FBI; Seayora reproduces them and does not adjust them, except where a sentence says it compares dollar figures after inflation. They describe the whole place, not any one building or street, and are not an appraisal, a rent determination, a tax bill, a safety rating or legal advice.