Solar by state
Where solar pays off in 2026, and where it doesn't. Each state's verdict is for a typical home paying cash, using that state's average usage, electricity price, solar production, export rules and installed cost.
Fastest payback: District of Columbia (4.7 yrs), Rhode Island (5 yrs), Hawaii (6.7 yrs), New York (6.8 yrs), Massachusetts (7.6 yrs).
- Alabama: Not worth it, 18.8 year payback
- Alaska: Close call, 14 year payback
- Arizona: Worth it, 12.7 year payback
- Arkansas: Close call, 14.5 year payback
- California: Worth it, 10.9 year payback
- Colorado: Worth it, 12.4 year payback
- Connecticut: Worth it, 8.7 year payback
- Delaware: Worth it, 12.3 year payback
- District of Columbia: Worth it, 4.7 year payback
- Florida: Worth it, 10.5 year payback
- Georgia: Not worth it, 17.2 year payback
- Hawaii: Worth it, 6.7 year payback
- Idaho: Not worth it, 18.3 year payback
- Illinois: Worth it, 13.5 year payback
- Indiana: Not worth it, 16.9 year payback
- Iowa: Not worth it, 22.7 year payback
- Kansas: Close call, 15.2 year payback
- Kentucky: Not worth it, 18.7 year payback
- Louisiana: Not worth it, 17.8 year payback
- Maine: Worth it, 9 year payback
- Maryland: Worth it, 8.9 year payback
- Massachusetts: Worth it, 7.6 year payback
- Michigan: Close call, 16 year payback
- Minnesota: Not worth it, 16.8 year payback
- Mississippi: Not worth it, 16.5 year payback
- Missouri: Close call, 15.5 year payback
- Montana: Not worth it, 19.6 year payback
- Nebraska: Not worth it, 19.7 year payback
- Nevada: Not worth it, 17 year payback
- New Hampshire: Worth it, 10 year payback
- New Jersey: Worth it, 7.8 year payback
- New Mexico: Close call, 12.9 year payback
- New York: Worth it, 6.8 year payback
- North Carolina: Close call, 14.2 year payback
- North Dakota: Not worth it, 20.3 year payback
- Ohio: Worth it, 12.8 year payback
- Oklahoma: Close call, 14.4 year payback
- Oregon: Close call, 14.2 year payback
- Pennsylvania: Worth it, 9.9 year payback
- Rhode Island: Worth it, 5 year payback
- South Carolina: Worth it, 11.8 year payback
- South Dakota: Not worth it, 21.8 year payback
- Tennessee: Not worth it, 24 year payback
- Texas: Close call, 14 year payback
- Utah: Not worth it, 22.7 year payback
- Vermont: Worth it, 11.5 year payback
- Virginia: Worth it, 12.3 year payback
- Washington: Close call, 16.2 year payback
- West Virginia: Close call, 14.2 year payback
- Wisconsin: Worth it, 13.2 year payback
- Wyoming: Close call, 15 year payback
Compare every state
Select a column heading to sort. Electricity prices are the 12 months through July 2026 (EIA).
| State | Verdict | Payback | 25-yr net | Price/kWh | kWh per kW | Cost/W | Export credit | Homes with solar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Not worth it | 18.8 yrs | $8,577 | 16.4¢ | 1,407 | $3.60 | 18% | 0.0% |
| Alaska | Close call | 14 yrs | $13,665 | 26.9¢ | 924 | $3.00 | 35% | 1.0% |
| Arizona | Worth it | 12.7 yrs | $11,955 | 15.4¢ | 1,763 | $2.60 | 36% | 10.4% |
| Arkansas | Close call | 14.5 yrs | $20,493 | 13.4¢ | 1,402 | $2.75 | 30% | 1.3% |
| California | Worth it | 10.9 yrs | $21,593 | 33.0¢ | 1,658 | $2.90 | 12% | 15.1% |
| Colorado | Worth it | 12.4 yrs | $22,153 | 16.6¢ | 1,579 | $3.05 | Retail | 7.5% |
| Connecticut | Worth it | 8.7 yrs | $57,412 | 28.0¢ | 1,286 | $3.10 | Retail | 7.4% |
| Delaware | Worth it | 12.3 yrs | $31,511 | 17.8¢ | 1,379 | $3.05 | Retail | 3.1% |
| District of Columbia | Worth it | 4.7 yrs | $76,463 | 24.2¢ | 1,391 | $3.65 | Retail | 6.6% |
| Florida | Worth it | 10.5 yrs | $41,335 | 15.4¢ | 1,544 | $2.45 | Retail | 3.0% |
| Georgia | Not worth it | 17.2 yrs | $8,005 | 15.1¢ | 1,418 | $2.90 | 48% | 0.4% |
| Hawaii | Worth it | 6.7 yrs | $35,912 | 43.5¢ | 1,545 | $4.00 | 31% | 23.1% |
| Idaho | Not worth it | 18.3 yrs | $3,599 | 12.7¢ | 1,425 | $3.45 | 36% | 2.6% |
| Illinois | Worth it | 13.5 yrs | $24,848 | 18.8¢ | 1,339 | $3.40 | 48% | 2.2% |
| Indiana | Not worth it | 16.9 yrs | $9,567 | 16.9¢ | 1,330 | $3.05 | 32% | 0.4% |
| Iowa | Not worth it | 22.7 yrs | $1,735 | 14.1¢ | 1,369 | $3.75 | Retail | 1.3% |
| Kansas | Close call | 15.2 yrs | $12,998 | 15.1¢ | 1,471 | $3.05 | 20% | 0.7% |
| Kentucky | Not worth it | 18.7 yrs | $6,295 | 13.9¢ | 1,340 | $2.85 | 54% | 0.5% |
| Louisiana | Not worth it | 17.8 yrs | $7,590 | 13.0¢ | 1,470 | $2.65 | 30% | 1.6% |
| Maine | Worth it | 9 yrs | $49,322 | 29.3¢ | 1,303 | $3.35 | Retail | 2.5% |
| Maryland | Worth it | 8.9 yrs | $57,979 | 21.0¢ | 1,380 | $2.95 | Retail | 4.8% |
| Massachusetts | Worth it | 7.6 yrs | $60,167 | 30.4¢ | 1,292 | $3.35 | Retail | 6.9% |
| Michigan | Close call | 16 yrs | $9,418 | 21.1¢ | 1,290 | $3.30 | 43% | 0.6% |
| Minnesota | Not worth it | 16.8 yrs | $14,495 | 16.2¢ | 1,333 | $3.75 | Retail | 1.0% |
| Mississippi | Not worth it | 16.5 yrs | $8,581 | 14.8¢ | 1,438 | $2.65 | 41% | 0.1% |
| Missouri | Close call | 15.5 yrs | $13,820 | 14.0¢ | 1,411 | $2.85 | 32% | 1.1% |
| Montana | Not worth it | 19.6 yrs | $3,978 | 13.8¢ | 1,277 | $2.90 | Retail | 2.2% |
| Nebraska | Not worth it | 19.7 yrs | $3,898 | 12.9¢ | 1,447 | $3.00 | 31% | 0.3% |
| Nevada | Not worth it | 17 yrs | $5,090 | 13.4¢ | 1,749 | $2.70 | 65% | 10.5% |
| New Hampshire | Worth it | 10 yrs | $43,204 | 26.7¢ | 1,273 | $3.30 | 85% | 3.8% |
| New Jersey | Worth it | 7.8 yrs | $55,248 | 23.8¢ | 1,317 | $3.00 | Retail | 5.7% |
| New Mexico | Close call | 12.9 yrs | $15,021 | 15.3¢ | 1,782 | $2.90 | 26% | 6.9% |
| New York | Worth it | 6.8 yrs | $54,900 | 28.4¢ | 1,330 | $3.20 | Retail | 3.3% |
| North Carolina | Close call | 14.2 yrs | $20,163 | 14.8¢ | 1,412 | $2.85 | 24% | 1.2% |
| North Dakota | Not worth it | 20.3 yrs | $4,268 | 12.3¢ | 1,322 | $3.00 | 24% | 0.0% |
| Ohio | Worth it | 12.8 yrs | $24,765 | 18.3¢ | 1,280 | $3.00 | 44% | 0.6% |
| Oklahoma | Close call | 14.4 yrs | $21,307 | 13.7¢ | 1,515 | $3.00 | 18% | 0.9% |
| Oregon | Close call | 14.2 yrs | $22,387 | 15.5¢ | 1,179 | $2.80 | Retail | 3.2% |
| Pennsylvania | Worth it | 9.9 yrs | $47,617 | 20.7¢ | 1,297 | $3.00 | Retail | 1.7% |
| Rhode Island | Worth it | 5 yrs | $63,893 | 29.3¢ | 1,298 | $3.20 | Retail | 4.2% |
| South Carolina | Worth it | 11.8 yrs | $25,172 | 15.6¢ | 1,453 | $2.95 | 19% | 1.5% |
| South Dakota | Not worth it | 21.8 yrs | $2,439 | 14.2¢ | 1,418 | $3.00 | 21% | 0.1% |
| Tennessee | Not worth it | 24 yrs | $1,035 | 13.6¢ | 1,367 | $3.60 | 20% | 0.0% |
| Texas | Close call | 14 yrs | $13,180 | 16.0¢ | 1,521 | $2.60 | 38% | 1.1% |
| Utah | Not worth it | 22.7 yrs | $1,316 | 13.3¢ | 1,509 | $3.00 | 32% | 6.7% |
| Vermont | Worth it | 11.5 yrs | $31,891 | 23.8¢ | 1,222 | $3.20 | 85% | 3.0% |
| Virginia | Worth it | 12.3 yrs | $36,620 | 16.5¢ | 1,380 | $2.95 | Retail | 2.0% |
| Washington | Close call | 16.2 yrs | $18,082 | 14.1¢ | 1,108 | $2.85 | Retail | 1.9% |
| West Virginia | Close call | 14.2 yrs | $31,826 | 15.5¢ | 1,217 | $3.00 | 60% | 0.6% |
| Wisconsin | Worth it | 13.2 yrs | $17,880 | 18.7¢ | 1,327 | $3.50 | 21% | 0.7% |
| Wyoming | Close call | 15 yrs | $14,072 | 14.0¢ | 1,518 | $3.00 | Retail | 1.2% |
"Export credit" is the typical value of solar sent to the grid as a share of the retail price. "Homes with solar" is net-metered residential systems (EIA-861, 2025) divided by residential customers. Methodology.