Solar in North Chicago, IL
With ComEd's electricity at about 19.3¢ per kWh and 1,328 kWh of sun per kW, solar is worth it for a typical North Chicago home today: about a 12.7-year payback.
- Payback, typical home
- 12.7 yrsIllinois: 13.5 yrs
- 25-year net
- $24,073after paying $16,760
- Sun
- 1,328kWh per kW per year
- Electricity
- 19.3¢7% above U.S. average
A typical North Chicago home, by the numbers
| Utility | ComEd |
|---|---|
| Electricity use | 622 kWh a month |
| Best-value system | 5.1 kW, about 12 panels, 6,773 kWh a year (91% of use) |
| Cost | $18,290, or $16,760 after state incentives |
| First-year savings | $1,230 |
| Payback | 12.7 years |
| Exported power | 9¢/kWh (ComEd) |
Cash purchase, no federal credit, 3.5% yearly rate increases. Run it with your own numbers.
Homes in North Chicago
- Owner-occupied homes
- 33%
- Single-family detached
- 38%
- Median home value
- $160k
- Median year built
- 1973
- Population
- 30,643
- Roofs suitable for solar†
- 83%
Census ACS 2020–2024. †Share of 4,355 buildings Google Project Sunroof rated technically suitable (2019 snapshot).
Older housing stock. Many homes here were built before 1975. Have the roof and electrical panel checked before signing; a roof or panel upgrade can add thousands. Roof first?
Installers working in North Chicago
Public installation records for Illinois don't name installers, so we can't rank local companies here. Browse installers in Illinois.
Always verify the license and get at least three quotes. Compare quotes side by side.
Questions about solar in North Chicago
Is solar worth it in North Chicago, IL?
For a typical home in North Chicago, solar is worth it at 2026 prices: a 5.1 kW system costs about $16,760 after state incentives, saves about $1,230 in year one and pays back in about 12.7 years. Enter your address for an estimate based on your roof and bill.
How much solar power does a system produce in North Chicago?
About 1,328 kWh per year for each kW of panels on a south-facing roof, based on PVWatts and local weather. That's 1% less than the Illinois average. East- or west-facing roofs produce roughly 10–20% less.
Who is the electric utility in North Chicago?
Most homes in North Chicago are served by ComEd, at about 19.3¢ per kWh on average.
How much do solar panels cost in North Chicago?
A fair cash price is around $3.40 per watt before incentives, so about $18,290 for a 5.1 kW system. There's no federal tax credit for homeowners who buy in 2026.
Nearby
- Waukegan 12.5 yrs
- Gurnee 12.6 yrs
- Vernon Hills 12.6 yrs
- Mundelein 12.5 yrs
- Highland Park 12.6 yrs
- Buffalo Grove 12.5 yrs
- Round Lake Beach 12.5 yrs
- Northbrook 12.6 yrs
- All of Illinois
Data: PVWatts (National Laboratory of the Rockies), EIA-861 2025 adjusted to 2026, U.S. Census ACS, LBNL Tracking the Sun, state policy research as of October 2026.