Solar in Arlington, MA
With Eversource Massachusetts's electricity at about 32.4¢ per kWh and 1,293 kWh of sun per kW, solar is worth it for a typical Arlington home today: about a 7.2-year payback.
- Payback, typical home
- 7.2 yrsMassachusetts: 7.6 yrs
- 25-year net
- $62,948after paying $17,035
- Sun
- 1,293kWh per kW per year
- Electricity
- 32.4¢80% above U.S. average
A typical Arlington home, by the numbers
| Utility | Eversource Massachusetts |
|---|---|
| Electricity use | 548 kWh a month |
| Best-value system | 5.1 kW, about 12 panels, 6,596 kWh a year (100% of use) |
| Cost | $18,035, or $17,035 after state incentives |
| First-year savings | $2,044 |
| Payback | 7.2 years |
| Exported power | Full retail net metering (Massachusetts rule) |
Cash purchase, no federal credit, 4.0% yearly rate increases. Run it with your own numbers.
Homes in Arlington
- Owner-occupied homes
- 62%
- Single-family detached
- 38%
- Median home value
- $934k
- Median year built
- 1945
- Population
- 46,350
- Roofs suitable for solar†
- 75%
Census ACS 2020–2024. †Share of 8,975 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 Arlington
Public installation records for Massachusetts don't name installers, so we can't rank local companies here. Browse installers in Massachusetts.
Always verify the license and get at least three quotes. Compare quotes side by side.
Questions about solar in Arlington
Is solar worth it in Arlington, MA?
For a typical home in Arlington, solar is worth it at 2026 prices: a 5.1 kW system costs about $17,035 after state incentives, saves about $2,044 in year one and pays back in about 7.2 years. Enter your address for an estimate based on your roof and bill.
How much solar power does a system produce in Arlington?
About 1,293 kWh per year for each kW of panels on a south-facing roof, based on PVWatts and local weather. That's 0% more than the Massachusetts average. East- or west-facing roofs produce roughly 10–20% less.
Who is the electric utility in Arlington?
Most homes in Arlington are served by Eversource Massachusetts, at about 32.4¢ per kWh on average. Some areas are served by National Grid Massachusetts.
How much do solar panels cost in Arlington?
A fair cash price is around $3.35 per watt before incentives, so about $18,035 for a 5.1 kW system. There's no federal tax credit for homeowners who buy in 2026.
Nearby
- Belmont 7.2 yrs
- Medford 6.9 yrs
- Watertown 7.6 yrs
- Cambridge 7.1 yrs
- Somerville 6.9 yrs
- Lexington 7.3 yrs
- Waltham 7.2 yrs
- Woburn 7.2 yrs
- All of Massachusetts
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.