Solar in Northampton, MA
With National Grid Massachusetts's electricity at about 33.9¢ per kWh and 1,240 kWh of sun per kW, solar is worth it for a typical Northampton home today: about a 7.2-year payback.
- Payback, typical home
- 7.2 yrsMassachusetts: 7.6 yrs
- 25-year net
- $65,570after paying $17,605
- Sun
- 1,240kWh per kW per year
- Electricity
- 33.9¢88% above U.S. average
A typical Northampton home, by the numbers
| Utility | National Grid Massachusetts |
|---|---|
| Electricity use | 549 kWh a month |
| Best-value system | 5.3 kW, about 12 panels, 6,573 kWh a year (100% of use) |
| Cost | $18,605, or $17,605 after state incentives |
| First-year savings | $2,127 |
| Payback | 7.2 years |
| Exported power | Full retail net metering (National Grid Massachusetts) |
Cash purchase, no federal credit, 4.0% yearly rate increases. Run it with your own numbers.
Homes in Northampton
- Owner-occupied homes
- 57%
- Single-family detached
- 44%
- Median home value
- $430k
- Median year built
- 1955
- Population
- 30,962
Census ACS 2020–2024.
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 Northampton
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 Northampton
Is solar worth it in Northampton, MA?
For a typical home in Northampton, solar is worth it at 2026 prices: a 5.3 kW system costs about $17,605 after state incentives, saves about $2,127 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 Northampton?
About 1,240 kWh per year for each kW of panels on a south-facing roof, based on PVWatts and local weather. That's 4% less than the Massachusetts average. East- or west-facing roofs produce roughly 10–20% less.
Who is the electric utility in Northampton?
Most homes in Northampton are served by National Grid Massachusetts, at about 33.9¢ per kWh on average.
How much do solar panels cost in Northampton?
A fair cash price is around $3.35 per watt before incentives, so about $18,605 for a 5.3 kW system. There's no federal tax credit for homeowners who buy in 2026.
Nearby
- Holyoke 13.3 yrs
- Amherst Town 7.1 yrs
- Chicopee 12.8 yrs
- Westfield 11.7 yrs
- West Springfield Town 13 yrs
- Springfield 7.4 yrs
- Agawam Town 11.6 yrs
- Pittsfield 7.3 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.