Solar Panel Cost & Payback in Illinois

Home solar in Illinois pays back in a median 17.9 years across the 242 places we cover, at an average electricity price of 19.2¢/kWh and about $3.60 per watt installed. Power sent back to the grid earns only about 8.3¢/kWh (Supply-only net metering), which lengthens payback. Jacksonville has the fastest payback (17.0 years).

Solar estimates for Illinois cities and towns

Sorted by fastest payback. Each figure is for a system sized to an average Illinois home (693 kWh/month).

PlacekWh per kWSystemCostPayback25-yr savings
Jacksonville1,4216.0 kW$21,60017.0 yrs$12,940
Shiloh1,4196.0 kW$21,60017.0 yrs$12,891
Taylorville1,4106.0 kW$21,60017.1 yrs$12,673
Waterloo1,4096.0 kW$21,60017.1 yrs$12,648
Fairview Heights1,4056.0 kW$21,60017.2 yrs$12,551
Granite City1,4046.0 kW$21,60017.2 yrs$12,527
Alton1,4016.0 kW$21,60017.2 yrs$12,454
Chatham1,4016.0 kW$21,60017.2 yrs$12,454
Wood River1,4016.0 kW$21,60017.2 yrs$12,454
Macomb1,4006.0 kW$21,60017.2 yrs$12,429
Mattoon1,3996.0 kW$21,60017.2 yrs$12,405
Canton1,3996.0 kW$21,60017.2 yrs$12,405
Belleville1,3976.0 kW$21,60017.3 yrs$12,357
Cahokia1,3976.0 kW$21,60017.3 yrs$12,357
Swansea1,3976.0 kW$21,60017.3 yrs$12,357
Upper Alton1,3966.0 kW$21,60017.3 yrs$12,332
Godfrey1,3956.0 kW$21,60017.3 yrs$12,308
Herrin1,3946.0 kW$21,60017.3 yrs$12,284
O'Fallon1,3906.0 kW$21,60017.3 yrs$12,186
Carbondale1,3886.0 kW$21,60017.3 yrs$12,138
Marion1,3886.0 kW$21,60017.3 yrs$12,138
Lincoln1,3886.0 kW$21,60017.3 yrs$12,138
Troy1,3866.0 kW$21,60017.4 yrs$12,089
East Saint Louis1,3856.4 kW$23,04017.4 yrs$12,869
Glen Carbon1,3846.4 kW$23,04017.4 yrs$12,843
Centralia1,3846.4 kW$23,04017.4 yrs$12,843
Quincy1,3836.4 kW$23,04017.4 yrs$12,817
Highland1,3836.4 kW$23,04017.4 yrs$12,817
Monmouth1,3826.4 kW$23,04017.4 yrs$12,791
Decatur1,3816.4 kW$23,04017.4 yrs$12,765
Springfield1,3786.4 kW$23,04017.5 yrs$12,688
Charleston1,3776.4 kW$23,04017.5 yrs$12,662
Washington1,3776.4 kW$23,04017.5 yrs$12,662
Mount Vernon1,3766.4 kW$23,04017.5 yrs$12,636
Columbia1,3766.4 kW$23,04017.5 yrs$12,636
Bethalto1,3766.4 kW$23,04017.5 yrs$12,636
Western Springs1,3756.4 kW$23,04017.5 yrs$12,610
Normal1,3746.4 kW$23,04017.5 yrs$12,584
Edwardsville1,3746.4 kW$23,04017.5 yrs$12,584
Collinsville1,3746.4 kW$23,04017.5 yrs$12,584
East Peoria1,3736.4 kW$23,04017.5 yrs$12,558
Rantoul1,3736.4 kW$23,04017.5 yrs$12,558
Rock Island1,3726.4 kW$23,04017.5 yrs$12,532
Galesburg1,3726.4 kW$23,04017.5 yrs$12,532
Elk Grove Village1,3706.4 kW$23,04017.5 yrs$12,480
Urbana1,3696.4 kW$23,04017.5 yrs$12,454
Kewanee1,3676.4 kW$23,04017.6 yrs$12,403
Morton1,3666.4 kW$23,04017.6 yrs$12,377
Effingham1,3626.4 kW$23,04017.6 yrs$12,273
Pontiac1,3616.4 kW$23,04017.6 yrs$12,247
Danville1,3596.4 kW$23,04017.7 yrs$12,195
Bloomington1,3586.4 kW$23,04017.7 yrs$12,169
North Peoria1,3576.4 kW$23,04017.7 yrs$12,143
Rochelle1,3566.4 kW$23,04017.7 yrs$12,117
Champaign1,3556.4 kW$23,04017.7 yrs$12,091
Mount Prospect1,3536.4 kW$23,04017.7 yrs$12,040
Freeport1,3536.4 kW$23,04017.7 yrs$12,040
Beach Park1,3536.4 kW$23,04017.7 yrs$12,040
Ottawa1,3526.4 kW$23,04017.7 yrs$12,014
Wasco1,3516.4 kW$23,04017.7 yrs$11,988
Geneva1,3516.4 kW$23,04017.7 yrs$11,988
Westchester1,3516.4 kW$23,04017.7 yrs$11,988
Moline1,3506.4 kW$23,04017.8 yrs$11,962
Pekin1,3506.4 kW$23,04017.8 yrs$11,962
Chicago Ridge1,3506.4 kW$23,04017.8 yrs$11,962
Antioch1,3506.4 kW$23,04017.8 yrs$11,962
Worth1,3506.4 kW$23,04017.8 yrs$11,962
Round Lake Beach1,3496.4 kW$23,04017.8 yrs$11,936
Brookfield1,3496.4 kW$23,04017.8 yrs$11,936
Round Lake1,3496.4 kW$23,04017.8 yrs$11,936
Country Club Hills1,3496.4 kW$23,04017.8 yrs$11,936
La Grange1,3496.4 kW$23,04017.8 yrs$11,936
Lindenhurst1,3496.4 kW$23,04017.8 yrs$11,936
Streator1,3496.4 kW$23,04017.8 yrs$11,936
Barrington1,3496.4 kW$23,04017.8 yrs$11,936
Sugar Grove1,3496.4 kW$23,04017.8 yrs$11,936
Melrose Park1,3486.4 kW$23,04017.8 yrs$11,910
Maywood1,3486.4 kW$23,04017.8 yrs$11,910
Machesney Park1,3486.4 kW$23,04017.8 yrs$11,910
Plano1,3486.4 kW$23,04017.8 yrs$11,910
Peoria1,3476.4 kW$23,04017.8 yrs$11,884
Elmwood Park1,3476.4 kW$23,04017.8 yrs$11,884
Loves Park1,3476.4 kW$23,04017.8 yrs$11,884
Bellwood1,3476.4 kW$23,04017.8 yrs$11,884
River Grove1,3476.4 kW$23,04017.8 yrs$11,884
DeKalb1,3466.4 kW$23,04017.8 yrs$11,858
Oak Forest1,3466.4 kW$23,04017.8 yrs$11,858
Harvey1,3466.4 kW$23,04017.8 yrs$11,858
East Moline1,3466.4 kW$23,04017.8 yrs$11,858
Hazel Crest1,3466.4 kW$23,04017.8 yrs$11,858
Lyons1,3466.4 kW$23,04017.8 yrs$11,858
Bourbonnais1,3456.4 kW$23,04017.8 yrs$11,832
Bolingbrook1,3446.4 kW$23,04017.8 yrs$11,806
Lisle1,3446.4 kW$23,04017.8 yrs$11,806
Lake Forest1,3446.4 kW$23,04017.8 yrs$11,806
Palos Hills1,3446.4 kW$23,04017.8 yrs$11,806
Midlothian1,3446.4 kW$23,04017.8 yrs$11,806
Markham1,3446.4 kW$23,04017.8 yrs$11,806
Wauconda1,3436.4 kW$23,04017.8 yrs$11,780
Channahon1,3436.4 kW$23,04017.8 yrs$11,780
Elmhurst1,3426.4 kW$23,04017.8 yrs$11,754
Burbank1,3426.4 kW$23,04017.8 yrs$11,754
Dolton1,3426.4 kW$23,04017.8 yrs$11,754
Bensenville1,3426.4 kW$23,04017.8 yrs$11,754
Wood Dale1,3426.4 kW$23,04017.8 yrs$11,754
Riverdale1,3426.4 kW$23,04017.8 yrs$11,754
Rockford1,3416.4 kW$23,04017.9 yrs$11,728
Waukegan1,3416.4 kW$23,04017.9 yrs$11,728
Lake in the Hills1,3416.4 kW$23,04017.9 yrs$11,728
Cary1,3416.4 kW$23,04017.9 yrs$11,728
La Grange Park1,3416.4 kW$23,04017.9 yrs$11,728
St. Charles1,3406.4 kW$23,04017.9 yrs$11,702
West Chicago1,3406.4 kW$23,04017.9 yrs$11,702
McHenry1,3406.4 kW$23,04017.9 yrs$11,702
Blue Island1,3406.4 kW$23,04017.9 yrs$11,702
Franklin Park1,3406.4 kW$23,04017.9 yrs$11,702
Bridgeview1,3406.4 kW$23,04017.9 yrs$11,702
Summit1,3406.4 kW$23,04017.9 yrs$11,702
Joliet1,3396.4 kW$23,04017.9 yrs$11,677
Arlington Heights1,3396.4 kW$23,04017.9 yrs$11,677
Palatine1,3396.4 kW$23,04017.9 yrs$11,677
Gurnee1,3396.4 kW$23,04017.9 yrs$11,677
Grayslake1,3396.4 kW$23,04017.9 yrs$11,677
Hinsdale1,3396.4 kW$23,04017.9 yrs$11,677
Norridge1,3396.4 kW$23,04017.9 yrs$11,677
Roscoe1,3396.4 kW$23,04017.9 yrs$11,677
La Salle1,3396.4 kW$23,04017.9 yrs$11,677
Cicero1,3386.4 kW$23,04017.9 yrs$11,651
Algonquin1,3386.4 kW$23,04017.9 yrs$11,651
Montgomery1,3386.4 kW$23,04017.9 yrs$11,651
Morris1,3386.4 kW$23,04017.9 yrs$11,651
Hickory Hills1,3386.4 kW$23,04017.9 yrs$11,651
Justice1,3386.4 kW$23,04017.9 yrs$11,651
Peru1,3386.4 kW$23,04017.9 yrs$11,651
Elgin1,3376.4 kW$23,04017.9 yrs$11,625
Lombard1,3376.4 kW$23,04017.9 yrs$11,625
Rolling Meadows1,3376.4 kW$23,04017.9 yrs$11,625
South Elgin1,3376.4 kW$23,04017.9 yrs$11,625
Villa Park1,3376.4 kW$23,04017.9 yrs$11,625
Des Plaines1,3366.4 kW$23,04017.9 yrs$11,599
Tinley Park1,3366.4 kW$23,04017.9 yrs$11,599
Plainfield1,3366.4 kW$23,04017.9 yrs$11,599
Buffalo Grove1,3366.4 kW$23,04017.9 yrs$11,599
Oswego1,3366.4 kW$23,04017.9 yrs$11,599
Mundelein1,3366.4 kW$23,04017.9 yrs$11,599
Glen Ellyn1,3366.4 kW$23,04017.9 yrs$11,599
Kankakee1,3366.4 kW$23,04017.9 yrs$11,599
Huntley1,3366.4 kW$23,04017.9 yrs$11,599
Sycamore1,3366.4 kW$23,04017.9 yrs$11,599
Bradley1,3366.4 kW$23,04017.9 yrs$11,599
Dixon1,3366.4 kW$23,04017.9 yrs$11,599
Sterling1,3366.4 kW$23,04017.9 yrs$11,599
Aurora1,3356.4 kW$23,04017.9 yrs$11,573
Orland Park1,3356.4 kW$23,04017.9 yrs$11,573
Wilmette1,3356.4 kW$23,04017.9 yrs$11,573
Roselle1,3356.4 kW$23,04017.9 yrs$11,573
Park Forest1,3356.4 kW$23,04017.9 yrs$11,573
Winnetka1,3356.4 kW$23,04017.9 yrs$11,573
Schiller Park1,3356.4 kW$23,04017.9 yrs$11,573
Schaumburg1,3346.4 kW$23,04017.9 yrs$11,547
Highland Park1,3346.4 kW$23,04017.9 yrs$11,547
Lockport1,3346.4 kW$23,04017.9 yrs$11,547
Crest Hill1,3346.4 kW$23,04017.9 yrs$11,547
Northlake1,3346.4 kW$23,04017.9 yrs$11,547
Glendale Heights1,3336.4 kW$23,04018.0 yrs$11,521
Bloomingdale1,3336.4 kW$23,04018.0 yrs$11,521
Shorewood1,3336.4 kW$23,04018.0 yrs$11,521
Prospect Heights1,3336.4 kW$23,04018.0 yrs$11,521
Romeoville1,3326.4 kW$23,04018.0 yrs$11,495
Northbrook1,3326.4 kW$23,04018.0 yrs$11,495
Chatham1,3326.4 kW$23,04018.0 yrs$11,495
Chicago Heights1,3326.4 kW$23,04018.0 yrs$11,495
Homer Glen1,3326.4 kW$23,04018.0 yrs$11,495
Lake Zurich1,3326.4 kW$23,04018.0 yrs$11,495
Goodings Grove1,3326.4 kW$23,04018.0 yrs$11,495
Steger1,3326.4 kW$23,04018.0 yrs$11,495
Lynwood1,3326.4 kW$23,04018.0 yrs$11,495
Evanston1,3316.4 kW$23,04018.0 yrs$11,469
Addison1,3316.4 kW$23,04018.0 yrs$11,469
New Lenox1,3316.4 kW$23,04018.0 yrs$11,469
Sauk Village1,3316.4 kW$23,04018.0 yrs$11,469
Crystal Lake1,3306.4 kW$23,04018.0 yrs$11,443
Hanover Park1,3296.4 kW$23,04018.0 yrs$11,417
North Aurora1,3296.4 kW$23,04018.0 yrs$11,417
Frankfort Square1,3296.4 kW$23,04018.0 yrs$11,417
Skokie1,3286.4 kW$23,04018.0 yrs$11,391
Oak Park1,3286.4 kW$23,04018.0 yrs$11,391
Bartlett1,3286.4 kW$23,04018.0 yrs$11,391
Streamwood1,3286.4 kW$23,04018.0 yrs$11,391
Wheeling1,3286.4 kW$23,04018.0 yrs$11,391
North Chicago1,3286.4 kW$23,04018.0 yrs$11,391
Zion1,3286.4 kW$23,04018.0 yrs$11,391
Deerfield1,3286.4 kW$23,04018.0 yrs$11,391
Berwyn1,3276.4 kW$23,04018.0 yrs$11,365
Hoffman Estates1,3276.4 kW$23,04018.0 yrs$11,365
Park Ridge1,3276.4 kW$23,04018.0 yrs$11,365
Niles1,3276.4 kW$23,04018.0 yrs$11,365
Vernon Hills1,3276.4 kW$23,04018.0 yrs$11,365
Belvidere1,3276.4 kW$23,04018.0 yrs$11,365
Mokena1,3276.4 kW$23,04018.0 yrs$11,365
Flossmoor1,3276.4 kW$23,04018.0 yrs$11,365
Lansing1,3266.4 kW$23,04018.0 yrs$11,339
South Holland1,3266.4 kW$23,04018.0 yrs$11,339
Alsip1,3266.4 kW$23,04018.0 yrs$11,339
Minooka1,3266.4 kW$23,04018.0 yrs$11,339
Crestwood1,3266.4 kW$23,04018.0 yrs$11,339
Chicago1,3256.4 kW$23,04018.0 yrs$11,314
Oak Lawn1,3256.4 kW$23,04018.0 yrs$11,314
Carpentersville1,3256.4 kW$23,04018.0 yrs$11,314
Bridgeport1,3256.4 kW$23,04018.0 yrs$11,314
Westmont1,3256.4 kW$23,04018.0 yrs$11,314
Woodlawn1,3256.4 kW$23,04018.0 yrs$11,314
Burr Ridge1,3256.4 kW$23,04018.0 yrs$11,314
Wheaton1,3246.4 kW$23,04018.1 yrs$11,288
Forest Park1,3246.4 kW$23,04018.1 yrs$11,288
Village of Campton Hills1,3246.4 kW$23,04018.1 yrs$11,288
Palos Heights1,3246.4 kW$23,04018.1 yrs$11,288
River Forest1,3246.4 kW$23,04018.1 yrs$11,288
Calumet City1,3236.4 kW$23,04018.1 yrs$11,262
Batavia1,3236.4 kW$23,04018.1 yrs$11,262
Woodstock1,3236.4 kW$23,04018.1 yrs$11,262
Matteson1,3236.4 kW$23,04018.1 yrs$11,262
Richton Park1,3236.4 kW$23,04018.1 yrs$11,262
Frankfort1,3226.4 kW$23,04018.1 yrs$11,236
Glenview1,3206.4 kW$23,04018.1 yrs$11,184
Carol Stream1,3206.4 kW$23,04018.1 yrs$11,184
Morton Grove1,3206.4 kW$23,04018.1 yrs$11,184
Libertyville1,3196.4 kW$23,04018.1 yrs$11,158
Darien1,3186.4 kW$23,04018.1 yrs$11,132
Evergreen Park1,3186.4 kW$23,04018.1 yrs$11,132
Downers Grove1,3176.4 kW$23,04018.1 yrs$11,106
Woodridge1,3176.4 kW$23,04018.1 yrs$11,106
Homewood1,3176.4 kW$23,04018.1 yrs$11,106
Lincolnwood1,3166.4 kW$23,04018.1 yrs$11,080
Yorkville1,3126.4 kW$23,04018.2 yrs$10,977
Warrenville1,3126.4 kW$23,04018.2 yrs$10,977
Lemont1,3116.4 kW$23,04018.2 yrs$10,951
Fox Lake1,3106.4 kW$23,04018.2 yrs$10,925
Gages Lake1,3106.4 kW$23,04018.2 yrs$10,925
Naperville1,3066.4 kW$23,04018.3 yrs$10,821
Harvard1,3066.4 kW$23,04018.3 yrs$10,821
Winfield1,3046.4 kW$23,04018.3 yrs$10,769