Is solar worth it in your state? (2026)
Solar economics vary enormously by state — driven by electricity rates and sunshine. Here's the estimated payback and 25-year savings for an average home (10,800 kWh/year, cash purchase), updated for 2026 now that the federal tax credit has expired. Sorted by fastest payback.
| State | Rate | Sun (hrs) | Payback | 25-yr savings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | 41.0¢ | 5.8 | 4.2 yr | $131,493 |
| California | 31.0¢ | 5.5 | 5.8 yr | $93,613 |
| Massachusetts | 30.0¢ | 4 | 8 yr | $82,234 |
| Connecticut | 28.0¢ | 4 | 8.5 yr | $74,870 |
| Rhode Island | 28.0¢ | 4 | 8.5 yr | $74,870 |
| Nevada | 15.0¢ | 6.3 | 9.9 yr | $37,309 |
| Arizona | 14.5¢ | 6.5 | 9.9 yr | $36,020 |
| Maine | 23.0¢ | 4 | 10.1 yr | $56,461 |
| New Hampshire | 23.0¢ | 4 | 10.1 yr | $56,461 |
| New Mexico | 14.0¢ | 6.5 | 10.2 yr | $34,179 |
| New York | 23.0¢ | 3.8 | 10.6 yr | $54,975 |
| Colorado | 15.0¢ | 5.5 | 11.1 yr | $34,703 |
| Vermont | 21.0¢ | 3.9 | 11.2 yr | $48,373 |
| Texas | 15.0¢ | 5.3 | 11.5 yr | $33,928 |
| Florida | 14.5¢ | 5.3 | 11.9 yr | $32,087 |
| Maryland | 17.5¢ | 4.3 | 12.1 yr | $38,179 |
| Alaska | 24.5¢ | 3 | 12.3 yr | $52,576 |
| New Jersey | 17.5¢ | 4.2 | 12.3 yr | $37,554 |
| Delaware | 16.5¢ | 4.3 | 12.7 yr | $34,498 |
| Michigan | 18.5¢ | 3.8 | 12.8 yr | $38,407 |
| Kansas | 14.0¢ | 5 | 12.9 yr | $28,968 |
| Alabama | 15.5¢ | 4.5 | 12.9 yr | $31,982 |
| South Carolina | 14.5¢ | 4.8 | 12.9 yr | $29,869 |
| Georgia | 14.0¢ | 4.8 | 13.3 yr | $28,028 |
| Washington D.C. | 16.0¢ | 4.2 | 13.3 yr | $32,032 |
| Pennsylvania | 17.0¢ | 3.9 | 13.5 yr | $33,646 |
| Wisconsin | 16.5¢ | 4 | 13.5 yr | $32,529 |
| Illinois | 16.0¢ | 4 | 13.9 yr | $30,688 |
| Virginia | 14.5¢ | 4.4 | 13.9 yr | $27,730 |
| North Carolina | 13.5¢ | 4.7 | 14 yr | $25,686 |
| Wyoming | 12.5¢ | 5 | 14.2 yr | $23,446 |
| Oklahoma | 12.0¢ | 5.2 | 14.2 yr | $22,473 |
| Minnesota | 14.5¢ | 4.2 | 14.5 yr | $26,509 |
| Ohio | 15.5¢ | 3.9 | 14.6 yr | $28,123 |
| Indiana | 15.0¢ | 4 | 14.7 yr | $27,006 |
| Mississippi | 13.0¢ | 4.6 | 14.7 yr | $23,323 |
| South Dakota | 13.0¢ | 4.6 | 14.7 yr | $23,323 |
| Utah | 11.0¢ | 5.3 | 15 yr | $19,201 |
| Tennessee | 13.0¢ | 4.4 | 15.3 yr | $22,208 |
| Iowa | 13.5¢ | 4.2 | 15.4 yr | $22,827 |
| Louisiana | 12.0¢ | 4.7 | 15.4 yr | $20,163 |
| Arkansas | 12.5¢ | 4.5 | 15.5 yr | $20,937 |
| Montana | 12.5¢ | 4.5 | 15.5 yr | $20,937 |
| West Virginia | 14.0¢ | 3.9 | 15.9 yr | $22,600 |
| Idaho | 11.5¢ | 4.7 | 16 yr | $18,322 |
| Nebraska | 11.5¢ | 4.7 | 16 yr | $18,322 |
| Missouri | 12.0¢ | 4.5 | 16 yr | $19,096 |
| Kentucky | 12.5¢ | 4.2 | 16.4 yr | $19,145 |
| Oregon | 13.0¢ | 4 | 16.5 yr | $19,642 |
| North Dakota | 11.0¢ | 4.5 | 17.2 yr | $15,414 |
| Washington | 11.0¢ | 3.5 | 21 yr | $8,246 |
All 50 states + DC. Run your exact numbers in the calculator →
📊 Free open dataset (CC BY 4.0): 2026 solar cost & payback by state (table + JSON download) — reuse with attribution.
Solar guides
- The 2026 federal solar tax credit — what expired, who still qualifies, and what it means for your payback.
- Lease vs buy vs PPA in 2026 — which way to go solar now that buyers lost the credit.
Estimates only, not financial advice. Based on state-average data; confirm with local quotes.