Solar Panel Cost & Payback in Colorado
Home solar in Colorado pays back in a median 12.2 years across the 65 places we cover, at an average electricity price of 16.7¢/kWh and about $3.60 per watt installed. Alamosa has the fastest payback (11.0 years).
Solar estimates for Colorado cities and towns
Sorted by fastest payback. Each figure is for a system sized to an average Colorado home (674 kWh/month).
| Place | kWh per kW | System | Cost | Payback | 25-yr savings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alamosa | 1,767 | 4.8 kW | $17,280 | 11.0 yrs | $28,070 |
| Durango | 1,682 | 5.2 kW | $18,720 | 11.5 yrs | $28,046 |
| Pueblo West | 1,674 | 5.2 kW | $18,720 | 11.6 yrs | $27,824 |
| Black Forest | 1,665 | 5.2 kW | $18,720 | 11.6 yrs | $27,574 |
| Pueblo | 1,657 | 5.2 kW | $18,720 | 11.7 yrs | $27,351 |
| Security-Widefield | 1,655 | 5.2 kW | $18,720 | 11.7 yrs | $27,296 |
| Canon City | 1,655 | 5.2 kW | $18,720 | 11.7 yrs | $27,296 |
| Fountain | 1,650 | 5.2 kW | $18,720 | 11.7 yrs | $27,157 |
| Fort Carson | 1,639 | 5.2 kW | $18,720 | 11.8 yrs | $26,851 |
| Fruita | 1,634 | 5.2 kW | $18,720 | 11.8 yrs | $26,712 |
| Cherry Creek | 1,634 | 5.2 kW | $18,720 | 11.8 yrs | $26,712 |
| Centennial | 1,633 | 5.2 kW | $18,720 | 11.8 yrs | $26,684 |
| Clifton | 1,630 | 5.2 kW | $18,720 | 11.8 yrs | $26,601 |
| Castle Pines North | 1,630 | 5.2 kW | $18,720 | 11.8 yrs | $26,601 |
| Colorado Springs | 1,626 | 5.2 kW | $18,720 | 11.9 yrs | $26,489 |
| Grand Junction | 1,626 | 5.2 kW | $18,720 | 11.9 yrs | $26,489 |
| Lone Tree | 1,626 | 5.2 kW | $18,720 | 11.9 yrs | $26,489 |
| Aurora | 1,620 | 5.2 kW | $18,720 | 11.9 yrs | $26,323 |
| The Pinery | 1,620 | 5.2 kW | $18,720 | 11.9 yrs | $26,323 |
| Thornton | 1,613 | 5.2 kW | $18,720 | 12.0 yrs | $26,128 |
| Federal Heights | 1,613 | 5.2 kW | $18,720 | 12.0 yrs | $26,128 |
| Parker | 1,611 | 5.2 kW | $18,720 | 12.0 yrs | $26,072 |
| Montrose | 1,609 | 5.2 kW | $18,720 | 12.0 yrs | $26,017 |
| Castle Rock | 1,608 | 5.2 kW | $18,720 | 12.0 yrs | $25,989 |
| Highlands Ranch | 1,605 | 5.2 kW | $18,720 | 12.0 yrs | $25,905 |
| Englewood | 1,602 | 5.2 kW | $18,720 | 12.0 yrs | $25,822 |
| Welby | 1,599 | 5.2 kW | $18,720 | 12.0 yrs | $25,739 |
| Greenwood Village | 1,598 | 5.2 kW | $18,720 | 12.1 yrs | $25,711 |
| Denver | 1,595 | 5.2 kW | $18,720 | 12.1 yrs | $25,627 |
| Commerce City | 1,593 | 5.2 kW | $18,720 | 12.1 yrs | $25,572 |
| Northglenn | 1,593 | 5.2 kW | $18,720 | 12.1 yrs | $25,572 |
| Brighton | 1,591 | 5.2 kW | $18,720 | 12.1 yrs | $25,516 |
| Frederick | 1,581 | 5.2 kW | $18,720 | 12.2 yrs | $25,238 |
| Glenwood Springs | 1,573 | 5.2 kW | $18,720 | 12.2 yrs | $25,016 |
| Rifle | 1,567 | 5.2 kW | $18,720 | 12.3 yrs | $24,849 |
| Johnstown | 1,562 | 5.2 kW | $18,720 | 12.3 yrs | $24,710 |
| Evans | 1,559 | 5.2 kW | $18,720 | 12.3 yrs | $24,626 |
| Firestone | 1,559 | 5.2 kW | $18,720 | 12.3 yrs | $24,626 |
| Fort Morgan | 1,559 | 5.2 kW | $18,720 | 12.3 yrs | $24,626 |
| Greeley | 1,558 | 5.2 kW | $18,720 | 12.3 yrs | $24,599 |
| Windsor | 1,556 | 5.2 kW | $18,720 | 12.3 yrs | $24,543 |
| Littleton | 1,546 | 5.6 kW | $20,160 | 12.4 yrs | $26,132 |
| Westminster | 1,543 | 5.6 kW | $20,160 | 12.4 yrs | $26,042 |
| Sherrelwood | 1,543 | 5.6 kW | $20,160 | 12.4 yrs | $26,042 |
| Sterling | 1,540 | 5.6 kW | $20,160 | 12.5 yrs | $25,952 |
| Wheat Ridge | 1,537 | 5.6 kW | $20,160 | 12.5 yrs | $25,862 |
| Ken Caryl | 1,534 | 5.6 kW | $20,160 | 12.5 yrs | $25,772 |
| Berkley | 1,532 | 5.6 kW | $20,160 | 12.5 yrs | $25,712 |
| Broomfield | 1,530 | 5.6 kW | $20,160 | 12.5 yrs | $25,652 |
| Dakota Ridge | 1,523 | 5.6 kW | $20,160 | 12.6 yrs | $25,443 |
| Columbine | 1,520 | 5.6 kW | $20,160 | 12.6 yrs | $25,353 |
| Erie | 1,519 | 5.6 kW | $20,160 | 12.6 yrs | $25,323 |
| Arvada | 1,518 | 5.6 kW | $20,160 | 12.6 yrs | $25,293 |
| Lafayette | 1,516 | 5.6 kW | $20,160 | 12.6 yrs | $25,233 |
| Lakewood | 1,512 | 5.6 kW | $20,160 | 12.7 yrs | $25,113 |
| Louisville | 1,511 | 5.6 kW | $20,160 | 12.7 yrs | $25,084 |
| Superior | 1,500 | 5.6 kW | $20,160 | 12.8 yrs | $24,754 |
| Loveland | 1,494 | 5.6 kW | $20,160 | 12.8 yrs | $24,575 |
| Edwards | 1,492 | 5.6 kW | $20,160 | 12.8 yrs | $24,515 |
| Longmont | 1,490 | 5.6 kW | $20,160 | 12.8 yrs | $24,455 |
| Golden | 1,487 | 5.6 kW | $20,160 | 12.9 yrs | $24,365 |
| Boulder | 1,471 | 5.6 kW | $20,160 | 13.0 yrs | $23,886 |
| Gunbarrel | 1,470 | 5.6 kW | $20,160 | 13.0 yrs | $23,856 |
| Fort Collins | 1,464 | 5.6 kW | $20,160 | 13.0 yrs | $23,676 |
| Steamboat Springs | 1,402 | 6.0 kW | $21,600 | 13.5 yrs | $23,378 |