Solar Panels in Durham, NH: Cost, Payback & Savings
A typical 6.0 kW home solar system in Durham costs about $22,200 and pays for itself in about 9.9 years, saving roughly $43,751 over 25 years at New Hampshire's average electricity price of 26.8¢/kWh.
Monthly solar production in Durham
Estimated output of a 6.0 kW south-facing roof system. Jul is the strongest month (848 kWh); Nov the weakest (396 kWh).
Solar production (kWh) Typical home use, 619 kWh/month
Solar payback calculator for Durham
Pre-filled with Durham's sunshine and New Hampshire's average electricity price. Enter your own bill and an installer's price per watt to see your payback.
Leave export credit blank where the utility offers full net metering. Where exports earn less, solar used at home as it's produced is worth the full price and the rest earns the export credit.
How Durham compares
- Each kW of panels here produces about 1,283 kWh a year — about the same as the New Hampshire median and 6% less than the US median city (1,371 kWh).
- Payback ranks #7 of 24 New Hampshire places we cover.
- Sunshine varies little across a state; electricity price, installed cost and how utilities credit exported power drive most of the difference between states.
Net metering, tax credits and incentives in 2026
New Hampshire offers net metering: power you send to the grid is credited at or near the retail price, so every solar kWh is valued at 26.8¢ here.
There is no federal tax credit for buying home solar installed in 2026. The 30% Residential Clean Energy Credit (Section 25D) ended for systems placed in service after December 31, 2025, so the costs and paybacks on this page include no federal credit.
New Hampshire and local utilities may still offer rebates, performance payments, property-tax or sales-tax exemptions. Search the DSIRE incentives database for New Hampshire and ask installers which programs they apply for you.
Frequently asked questions
Is solar worth it in Durham, NH?
For a typical home, a solar system pays for itself in about 9.9 years and then keeps saving money. Over 25 years the estimated net savings are $43,751. Verdict: strong investment. Your own payback depends on your roof, your bill and the quotes you get.
How many solar panels do I need in Durham, NH?
A home using 619 kWh a month (the New Hampshire average) needs about 15 panels of 400 W — a 6.0 kW system — to cover its annual use. Divide your own yearly kWh by 1,283 to get the kW you need.
How much do solar panels cost in Durham, NH?
At 3.70 dollars per watt, a 6.0 kW system costs about $22,200 before any state or utility incentives. There is no federal tax credit for systems installed in 2026.
How much sun does Durham get?
Durham averages 4.7 peak sun hours per day, so each kilowatt of panels produces about 1,283 kWh a year.
Does New Hampshire have net metering?
Yes. Power sent back to the grid is credited at or near the retail price (26.8¢ per kWh on average).
How much does electricity cost in New Hampshire?
Residential electricity in New Hampshire averages 26.8¢ per kWh, and a typical home uses 619 kWh a month (EIA).
Solar payback in nearby places
- Dover9.4 yrs
- Somersworth9.7 yrs
- Portsmouth9.5 yrs
- Exeter9.9 yrs
- Rochester9.8 yrs
- Hampton9.5 yrs
- Derry Village9.9 yrs
- Derry9.9 yrs