Is Solar Worth It Where You Live?
Cost, payback and 25-year savings for home solar in 4,807 US cities and towns — from public sunshine, electricity-price and installed-cost data, with no federal tax credit assumed (it ended after 2025).
Largest cities
| Place | kWh per kW | System | Cost | Payback | 25-yr savings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York City | 1,291 | 5.6 kW | $21,840 | 9.4 yrs | $46,086 |
| Los Angeles | 1,677 | 3.6 kW | $11,880 | 7.1 yrs | $38,317 |
| Brooklyn | 1,353 | 5.2 kW | $20,280 | 9.1 yrs | $45,823 |
| Chicago | 1,325 | 6.4 kW | $23,040 | 18.0 yrs | $11,314 |
| Queens | 1,374 | 5.2 kW | $20,280 | 8.9 yrs | $46,849 |
| Houston | 1,421 | 9.6 kW | $38,400 | 22.5 yrs | $5,329 |
| Phoenix | 1,755 | 7.6 kW | $23,560 | 16.0 yrs | $16,859 |
| Philadelphia | 1,356 | 7.6 kW | $27,360 | 11.4 yrs | $41,980 |
| San Antonio | 1,497 | 8.8 kW | $35,200 | 21.6 yrs | $7,029 |
| Manhattan | 1,291 | 5.6 kW | $21,840 | 9.4 yrs | $46,086 |
| San Diego | 1,599 | 4.0 kW | $13,200 | 10.7 yrs | $22,594 |
| The Bronx | 1,322 | 5.2 kW | $20,280 | 9.2 yrs | $44,308 |
| Dallas | 1,481 | 9.2 kW | $36,800 | 21.8 yrs | $6,877 |
| Jacksonville | 1,455 | 9.2 kW | $28,520 | 12.4 yrs | $36,975 |
| Fort Worth | 1,562 | 8.8 kW | $35,200 | 20.9 yrs | $8,863 |
| San Jose | 1,639 | 4.0 kW | $13,200 | 10.5 yrs | $23,490 |
| Austin | 1,476 | 9.2 kW | $36,800 | 21.9 yrs | $6,729 |
| Columbus | 1,296 | 8.0 kW | $28,800 | 13.1 yrs | $33,202 |
| Charlotte | 1,416 | 8.8 kW | $36,080 | 16.6 yrs | $23,454 |
| Indianapolis | 1,332 | 8.4 kW | $30,240 | 23.3 yrs | $2,736 |
| San Francisco | 1,561 | 4.0 kW | $13,200 | 10.9 yrs | $21,744 |
| Seattle | 1,088 | 10.8 kW | $32,400 | 16.4 yrs | $21,711 |
| Denver | 1,595 | 5.2 kW | $18,720 | 12.1 yrs | $25,627 |
| Washington | 1,391 | 5.6 kW | $20,160 | 9.6 yrs | $41,269 |
| Nashville | 1,338 | 10.4 kW | $37,440 | 25+ yrs | −$5,810 |
Solar by state
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming