Solar Panel Cost & Payback in Iowa
Home solar in Iowa pays back in a median 15.9 years across the 45 places we cover, at an average electricity price of 14.2¢/kWh and about $3.60 per watt installed. Council Bluffs has the fastest payback (15.4 years).
Solar estimates for Iowa cities and towns
Sorted by fastest payback. Each figure is for a system sized to an average Iowa home (832 kWh/month).
| Place | kWh per kW | System | Cost | Payback | 25-yr savings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Council Bluffs | 1,428 | 7.2 kW | $25,920 | 15.4 yrs | $20,769 |
| Le Mars | 1,405 | 7.2 kW | $25,920 | 15.6 yrs | $20,017 |
| Oskaloosa | 1,403 | 7.2 kW | $25,920 | 15.6 yrs | $19,952 |
| Fairfield | 1,399 | 7.2 kW | $25,920 | 15.6 yrs | $19,821 |
| Sioux City | 1,396 | 7.2 kW | $25,920 | 15.7 yrs | $19,723 |
| Pella | 1,391 | 7.2 kW | $25,920 | 15.7 yrs | $19,560 |
| Carroll | 1,391 | 7.2 kW | $25,920 | 15.7 yrs | $19,560 |
| Indianola | 1,387 | 7.2 kW | $25,920 | 15.7 yrs | $19,429 |
| Burlington | 1,386 | 7.6 kW | $27,360 | 15.8 yrs | $20,474 |
| Ankeny | 1,380 | 7.6 kW | $27,360 | 15.8 yrs | $20,267 |
| Cedar Rapids | 1,379 | 7.6 kW | $27,360 | 15.8 yrs | $20,232 |
| Grinnell | 1,379 | 7.6 kW | $27,360 | 15.8 yrs | $20,232 |
| Johnston | 1,378 | 7.6 kW | $27,360 | 15.8 yrs | $20,198 |
| Keokuk | 1,378 | 7.6 kW | $27,360 | 15.8 yrs | $20,198 |
| Storm Lake | 1,376 | 7.6 kW | $27,360 | 15.9 yrs | $20,128 |
| Newton | 1,375 | 7.6 kW | $27,360 | 15.9 yrs | $20,094 |
| Pleasant Hill | 1,373 | 7.6 kW | $27,360 | 15.9 yrs | $20,025 |
| Fort Dodge | 1,371 | 7.6 kW | $27,360 | 15.9 yrs | $19,956 |
| Waukee | 1,371 | 7.6 kW | $27,360 | 15.9 yrs | $19,956 |
| Grimes | 1,371 | 7.6 kW | $27,360 | 15.9 yrs | $19,956 |
| Des Moines | 1,370 | 7.6 kW | $27,360 | 15.9 yrs | $19,921 |
| Mason City | 1,370 | 7.6 kW | $27,360 | 15.9 yrs | $19,921 |
| Coralville | 1,370 | 7.6 kW | $27,360 | 15.9 yrs | $19,921 |
| Norwalk | 1,369 | 7.6 kW | $27,360 | 15.9 yrs | $19,887 |
| Boone | 1,367 | 7.6 kW | $27,360 | 15.9 yrs | $19,818 |
| Fort Madison | 1,366 | 7.6 kW | $27,360 | 16.0 yrs | $19,783 |
| Cedar Falls | 1,365 | 7.6 kW | $27,360 | 16.0 yrs | $19,749 |
| Ottumwa | 1,364 | 7.6 kW | $27,360 | 16.0 yrs | $19,714 |
| Spencer | 1,363 | 7.6 kW | $27,360 | 16.0 yrs | $19,680 |
| North Liberty | 1,362 | 7.6 kW | $27,360 | 16.0 yrs | $19,645 |
| Clinton | 1,361 | 7.6 kW | $27,360 | 16.0 yrs | $19,611 |
| Muscatine | 1,361 | 7.6 kW | $27,360 | 16.0 yrs | $19,611 |
| Altoona | 1,361 | 7.6 kW | $27,360 | 16.0 yrs | $19,611 |
| West Des Moines | 1,360 | 7.6 kW | $27,360 | 16.0 yrs | $19,576 |
| Marshalltown | 1,359 | 7.6 kW | $27,360 | 16.0 yrs | $19,542 |
| Marion | 1,352 | 7.6 kW | $27,360 | 16.1 yrs | $19,300 |
| Davenport | 1,350 | 7.6 kW | $27,360 | 16.1 yrs | $19,231 |
| Ames | 1,350 | 7.6 kW | $27,360 | 16.1 yrs | $19,231 |
| Urbandale | 1,349 | 7.6 kW | $27,360 | 16.1 yrs | $19,197 |
| Waverly | 1,348 | 7.6 kW | $27,360 | 16.1 yrs | $19,162 |
| Iowa City | 1,347 | 7.6 kW | $27,360 | 16.1 yrs | $19,128 |
| Bettendorf | 1,344 | 7.6 kW | $27,360 | 16.2 yrs | $19,024 |
| Clive | 1,338 | 7.6 kW | $27,360 | 16.2 yrs | $18,817 |
| Dubuque | 1,334 | 7.6 kW | $27,360 | 16.3 yrs | $18,679 |
| Waterloo | 1,324 | 7.6 kW | $27,360 | 16.4 yrs | $18,334 |