Is Solar Worth It? The Honest Answer for Every State
Whether solar makes financial sense depends on three things: what you pay for electricity, how much sun your roof gets, and how long you plan to stay in your home. Here's the real math — no sales pitch.
The Short Answer
Your electricity rate is the #1 factor — not how sunny your state is. A homeowner in cloudy Massachusetts paying $0.29/kWh gets a faster payback than a homeowner in sunny Arizona paying $0.13/kWh. Why? Because every kilowatt-hour your panels produce is worth more than twice as much in bill savings. Sun hours determine how big a system you need; your rate determines how much each kilowatt-hour saves you.
The 30% federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC), available through 2032, takes nearly a third off the installed cost. On a typical $20,000 residential system, that's $6,000 back as a direct tax credit — dropping payback by 3–4 years. Many states stack additional incentives on top: New York offers a 25% state tax credit, Arizona has a 25% state credit (up to $1,000), and Massachusetts runs its SMART production incentive program.
After incentives, most homeowners in favorable states see payback in 6–12 years. With panels warranted for 25 years (and lasting 30+), that means 13–19 years of free electricity after payback — worth $30,000–$100,000+ depending on your rate and usage. In less favorable states, payback stretches to 12–16 years, which still leaves a decade of free power but requires a longer time horizon.
When Solar is NOT Worth It
Solar isn't right for everyone. Here are the situations where the math doesn't work — and we'd tell you to skip it:
Very low electricity rates (under $0.10/kWh)
If your utility rate is under 10 cents per kWh, each kWh of solar production saves you very little. Payback can stretch beyond 16–20 years, which often doesn't make financial sense even with the ITC. States like Idaho, Utah, and parts of the Pacific Northwest fall into this category for some ratepayers.
Planning to move within 5 years
Solar increases home value, but you typically won't recoup the full investment on a sale before reaching payback. If you're moving in under 3 years, it's almost never worth it. Between 3–5 years is a gray area that depends on your state's payback timeline.
Heavily shaded roof or north-facing only
Solar panels need direct sunlight to perform. If tall trees, adjacent buildings, or your roof orientation blocks most direct sun, production drops 30–60% — and your payback stretches proportionally. A professional site assessment can tell you if your specific roof works.
Already on a 100% renewable utility plan
If your utility already provides 100% renewable energy at competitive rates and your primary motivation is environmental, rooftop solar may not add climate benefit. The financial case still depends on your rate vs. solar cost, but the green premium disappears.
State-by-State Verdict
How quickly solar pays for itself varies dramatically by state. Here's the verdict for our first 5 deep-dive states — more coming soon.
| State | Rate | Sun Hrs | Payback (w/ ITC) | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | $27.7¢/kWh | 5.82 hrs | 4 yrs | Strong ROI |
| Arizona | $13.4¢/kWh | 6.57 hrs | 7 yrs | Strong ROI |
| Florida | $14.2¢/kWh | 5.44 hrs | 8 yrs | Strong ROI |
| New York | $21.0¢/kWh | 3.79 hrs | 8.5 yrs | Solid |
| Texas | $13.5¢/kWh | 5.2 hrs | 8.5 yrs | Solid |
Payback is after the 30% federal ITC. Based on each state's average bill, sun hours, electricity rate, and install cost. National averages: 4.4 sun hrs/day, $16.5¢/kWh, $2.76/W installed.
More states coming soon — we're expanding to 15 states based on early search data. Want a specific state? Use our main calculator with any of the 50 states and DC.
How We Calculate These Verdicts
Every number on this page comes from publicly available data: peak sun hours from NREL PVWatts, residential electricity rates from the EIA, and installed cost-per-watt from LBNL Tracking the Sun. We take your state's average monthly bill, convert it to kWh usage based on local rates, size a system to offset that usage, price it using local install costs, then calculate how long it takes for annual electricity savings to repay the net cost after the 30% ITC.
These are averages — your actual payback depends on your specific roof, shading, utility rate tier, and available state/local incentives. For a personalized estimate, use our detailed methodology page or jump straight to the calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Explore by State
Is Solar Worth It in Arizona?
6.57 hrs/day · $13.4¢/kWh
Is Solar Worth It in California?
5.82 hrs/day · $27.7¢/kWh
Is Solar Worth It in Florida?
5.44 hrs/day · $14.2¢/kWh
Is Solar Worth It in New York?
3.79 hrs/day · $21.0¢/kWh
Is Solar Worth It in Texas?
5.2 hrs/day · $13.5¢/kWh
More Resources
Disclaimer: All verdicts, payback periods, and savings estimates are based on state-average data from NREL, EIA (2026 edition), and LBNL Tracking the Sun. Actual results vary by location, roof orientation, shading, utility rate tier, and available incentives. Not financial advice. Use our calculator for a personalized estimate.