Solar Panel Cost & Payback in Texas

Home solar in Texas pays back in a median 21.4 years across the 258 places we cover, at an average electricity price of 16.1¢/kWh and about $4.00 per watt installed. Power sent back to the grid earns only about 6.0¢/kWh (Retail provider solar buyback plans), which lengthens payback. Horizon City has the fastest payback (17.9 years).

Solar estimates for Texas cities and towns

Sorted by fastest payback. Each figure is for a system sized to an average Texas home (1,096 kWh/month).

PlacekWh per kWSystemCostPayback25-yr savings
Horizon City1,8827.2 kW$28,80017.9 yrs$14,637
El Paso1,8317.2 kW$28,80018.3 yrs$13,460
Socorro1,8267.6 kW$30,40018.3 yrs$14,086
Socorro Mission Number 1 Colonia1,8267.6 kW$30,40018.3 yrs$14,086
Pecos1,7807.6 kW$30,40018.7 yrs$12,965
Brownfield1,7637.6 kW$30,40018.9 yrs$12,551
Andrews1,7597.6 kW$30,40018.9 yrs$12,454
West Odessa1,7577.6 kW$30,40018.9 yrs$12,405
Lamesa1,7577.6 kW$30,40018.9 yrs$12,405
Levelland1,7517.6 kW$30,40019.0 yrs$12,259
Midland1,7477.6 kW$30,40019.0 yrs$12,161
Odessa1,7477.6 kW$30,40019.0 yrs$12,161
Lubbock1,7427.6 kW$30,40019.1 yrs$12,040
Plainview1,7327.6 kW$30,40019.2 yrs$11,796
Big Spring1,7218.0 kW$32,00019.3 yrs$12,135
Amarillo1,7208.0 kW$32,00019.3 yrs$12,109
Hereford1,7088.0 kW$32,00019.4 yrs$11,801
Dumas1,7088.0 kW$32,00019.4 yrs$11,801
Canyon1,7078.0 kW$32,00019.4 yrs$11,776
Pampa1,6968.0 kW$32,00019.5 yrs$11,494
Borger1,6828.0 kW$32,00019.6 yrs$11,135
Perryton1,6798.0 kW$32,00019.7 yrs$11,058
Snyder1,6698.0 kW$32,00019.8 yrs$10,801
Sweetwater1,6678.0 kW$32,00019.8 yrs$10,750
Abilene1,6508.0 kW$32,00019.9 yrs$10,314
San Angelo1,6308.4 kW$33,60020.1 yrs$10,291
Vernon1,6158.4 kW$33,60020.3 yrs$9,887
Laredo1,6048.4 kW$33,60020.4 yrs$9,591
Mission1,5988.4 kW$33,60020.5 yrs$9,429
Roma1,5988.4 kW$33,60020.5 yrs$9,429
Roma-Los Saenz1,5988.4 kW$33,60020.5 yrs$9,429
La Homa1,5918.4 kW$33,60020.5 yrs$9,241
Del Rio1,5898.4 kW$33,60020.6 yrs$9,187
Rio Grande City1,5898.4 kW$33,60020.6 yrs$9,187
Burkburnett1,5868.4 kW$33,60020.6 yrs$9,106
Stephenville1,5848.4 kW$33,60020.6 yrs$9,052
Watauga1,5818.4 kW$33,60020.7 yrs$8,972
Brownwood1,5738.4 kW$33,60020.7 yrs$8,756
Granbury1,5718.4 kW$33,60020.8 yrs$8,702
Alton1,5708.4 kW$33,60020.8 yrs$8,675
Grapevine1,5688.4 kW$33,60020.8 yrs$8,622
Wichita Falls1,5658.8 kW$35,20020.8 yrs$8,947
North Richland Hills1,5658.8 kW$35,20020.8 yrs$8,947
Weatherford1,5638.8 kW$35,20020.9 yrs$8,891
Fort Worth1,5628.8 kW$35,20020.9 yrs$8,863
San Juan1,5628.8 kW$35,20020.9 yrs$8,863
Southlake1,5628.8 kW$35,20020.9 yrs$8,863
Alamo1,5628.8 kW$35,20020.9 yrs$8,863
Coppell1,5608.8 kW$35,20020.9 yrs$8,806
White Settlement1,5598.8 kW$35,20020.9 yrs$8,778
Hidalgo1,5598.8 kW$35,20020.9 yrs$8,778
Azle1,5598.8 kW$35,20020.9 yrs$8,778
Keller1,5588.8 kW$35,20020.9 yrs$8,750
Saginaw1,5568.8 kW$35,20020.9 yrs$8,694
Rendon1,5568.8 kW$35,20020.9 yrs$8,694
Brownsville1,5558.8 kW$35,20020.9 yrs$8,665
Donna1,5548.8 kW$35,20021.0 yrs$8,637
Burleson1,5538.8 kW$35,20021.0 yrs$8,609
Portland1,5538.8 kW$35,20021.0 yrs$8,609
Edinburg1,5528.8 kW$35,20021.0 yrs$8,581
Kerrville1,5528.8 kW$35,20021.0 yrs$8,581
Benbrook1,5528.8 kW$35,20021.0 yrs$8,581
Forest Hill1,5528.8 kW$35,20021.0 yrs$8,581
Colleyville1,5518.8 kW$35,20021.0 yrs$8,553
Robstown1,5518.8 kW$35,20021.0 yrs$8,553
McAllen1,5508.8 kW$35,20021.0 yrs$8,524
Uvalde1,5508.8 kW$35,20021.0 yrs$8,524
Crowley1,5508.8 kW$35,20021.0 yrs$8,524
Pharr1,5478.8 kW$35,20021.0 yrs$8,440
The Trails of Frisco1,5478.8 kW$35,20021.0 yrs$8,440
Mercedes1,5468.8 kW$35,20021.0 yrs$8,412
Fort Cavazos1,5458.8 kW$35,20021.1 yrs$8,383
Eagle Pass1,5458.8 kW$35,20021.1 yrs$8,383
Raymondville1,5448.8 kW$35,20021.1 yrs$8,355
Fredericksburg1,5448.8 kW$35,20021.1 yrs$8,355
Trophy Club1,5438.8 kW$35,20021.1 yrs$8,327
Bedford1,5428.8 kW$35,20021.1 yrs$8,299
Haltom City1,5428.8 kW$35,20021.1 yrs$8,299
Weslaco1,5408.8 kW$35,20021.1 yrs$8,242
Denton1,5398.8 kW$35,20021.1 yrs$8,214
Copperas Cove1,5398.8 kW$35,20021.1 yrs$8,214
Mineral Wells1,5388.8 kW$35,20021.1 yrs$8,186
Pearsall1,5388.8 kW$35,20021.1 yrs$8,186
Cleburne1,5378.8 kW$35,20021.1 yrs$8,158
Arlington1,5368.8 kW$35,20021.2 yrs$8,129
Euless1,5358.8 kW$35,20021.2 yrs$8,101
Wylie1,5338.8 kW$35,20021.2 yrs$8,045
Waxahachie1,5338.8 kW$35,20021.2 yrs$8,045
Farmers Branch1,5338.8 kW$35,20021.2 yrs$8,045
Cedar Park1,5328.8 kW$35,20021.2 yrs$8,017
Leander1,5328.8 kW$35,20021.2 yrs$8,017
Kingsville1,5328.8 kW$35,20021.2 yrs$8,017
San Benito1,5328.8 kW$35,20021.2 yrs$8,017
Hurst1,5318.8 kW$35,20021.2 yrs$7,988
Prosper1,5318.8 kW$35,20021.2 yrs$7,988
Ingleside1,5318.8 kW$35,20021.2 yrs$7,988
Harlingen1,5308.8 kW$35,20021.2 yrs$7,960
Carrollton1,5288.8 kW$35,20021.2 yrs$7,904
Hutto1,5288.8 kW$35,20021.2 yrs$7,904
Killeen1,5278.8 kW$35,20021.3 yrs$7,876
Wells Branch1,5278.8 kW$35,20021.3 yrs$7,876
DeSoto1,5268.8 kW$35,20021.3 yrs$7,847
Robinson1,5268.8 kW$35,20021.3 yrs$7,847
Highland Village1,5258.8 kW$35,20021.3 yrs$7,819
Mansfield1,5248.8 kW$35,20021.3 yrs$7,791
Rockport1,5248.8 kW$35,20021.3 yrs$7,791
Corpus Christi1,5238.8 kW$35,20021.3 yrs$7,763
Duncanville1,5238.8 kW$35,20021.3 yrs$7,763
Garland1,5228.8 kW$35,20021.3 yrs$7,734
Gatesville1,5228.8 kW$35,20021.3 yrs$7,734
Celina1,5218.8 kW$35,20021.3 yrs$7,706
Red Oak1,5218.8 kW$35,20021.3 yrs$7,706
Fairview1,5218.8 kW$35,20021.3 yrs$7,706
Richardson1,5208.8 kW$35,20021.3 yrs$7,678
Temple1,5208.8 kW$35,20021.3 yrs$7,678
Sherman1,5208.8 kW$35,20021.3 yrs$7,678
Midlothian1,5208.8 kW$35,20021.3 yrs$7,678
Addison1,5208.8 kW$35,20021.3 yrs$7,678
Anna1,5208.8 kW$35,20021.3 yrs$7,678
Harker Heights1,5198.8 kW$35,20021.3 yrs$7,650
Belton1,5198.8 kW$35,20021.3 yrs$7,650
Grand Prairie1,5188.8 kW$35,20021.4 yrs$7,622
Lewisville1,5188.8 kW$35,20021.4 yrs$7,622
Georgetown1,5188.8 kW$35,20021.4 yrs$7,622
Frisco1,5178.8 kW$35,20021.4 yrs$7,593
Plano1,5168.8 kW$35,20021.4 yrs$7,565
Allen1,5168.8 kW$35,20021.4 yrs$7,565
Rockwall1,5158.8 kW$35,20021.4 yrs$7,537
Hewitt1,5158.8 kW$35,20021.4 yrs$7,537
Bonham1,5158.8 kW$35,20021.4 yrs$7,537
Rowlett1,5148.8 kW$35,20021.4 yrs$7,509
Forney1,5148.8 kW$35,20021.4 yrs$7,509
Live Oak1,5148.8 kW$35,20021.4 yrs$7,509
McKinney1,5138.8 kW$35,20021.4 yrs$7,481
Waco1,5138.8 kW$35,20021.4 yrs$7,481
Flower Mound1,5138.8 kW$35,20021.4 yrs$7,481
Beeville1,5138.8 kW$35,20021.4 yrs$7,481
Royse City1,5138.8 kW$35,20021.4 yrs$7,481
Little Elm1,5128.8 kW$35,20021.4 yrs$7,452
Timberwood Park1,5128.8 kW$35,20021.4 yrs$7,452
Converse1,5118.8 kW$35,20021.4 yrs$7,424
Universal City1,5118.8 kW$35,20021.4 yrs$7,424
Round Rock1,5108.8 kW$35,20021.4 yrs$7,396
Corinth1,5108.8 kW$35,20021.4 yrs$7,396
Boerne1,5108.8 kW$35,20021.4 yrs$7,396
Lancaster1,5098.8 kW$35,20021.5 yrs$7,368
Pflugerville1,5088.8 kW$35,20021.5 yrs$7,340
Alice1,5088.8 kW$35,20021.5 yrs$7,340
Seagoville1,5088.8 kW$35,20021.5 yrs$7,340
San Marcos1,5078.8 kW$35,20021.5 yrs$7,311
Sachse1,5078.8 kW$35,20021.5 yrs$7,311
Cedar Hill1,5068.8 kW$35,20021.5 yrs$7,283
Murphy1,5068.8 kW$35,20021.5 yrs$7,283
Ennis1,5068.8 kW$35,20021.5 yrs$7,283
Balch Springs1,5058.8 kW$35,20021.5 yrs$7,255
Glenn Heights1,5048.8 kW$35,20021.5 yrs$7,227
Irving1,5038.8 kW$35,20021.5 yrs$7,199
Seguin1,5038.8 kW$35,20021.5 yrs$7,199
Taylor1,5038.8 kW$35,20021.5 yrs$7,199
Schertz1,5028.8 kW$35,20021.5 yrs$7,170
Gainesville1,5028.8 kW$35,20021.5 yrs$7,170
New Braunfels1,5008.8 kW$35,20021.6 yrs$7,114
Paris1,5008.8 kW$35,20021.6 yrs$7,114
Terrell1,5008.8 kW$35,20021.6 yrs$7,114
Lakeway1,5008.8 kW$35,20021.6 yrs$7,114
Pleasanton1,5008.8 kW$35,20021.6 yrs$7,114
Freeport1,4998.8 kW$35,20021.6 yrs$7,086
Buda1,4988.8 kW$35,20021.6 yrs$7,057
San Antonio1,4978.8 kW$35,20021.6 yrs$7,029
The Colony1,4968.8 kW$35,20021.6 yrs$7,001
Cibolo1,4968.8 kW$35,20021.6 yrs$7,001
Bellmead1,4968.8 kW$35,20021.6 yrs$7,001
Brushy Creek1,4958.8 kW$35,20021.6 yrs$6,973
Athens1,4949.2 kW$36,80021.6 yrs$7,260
Fate1,4929.2 kW$36,80021.7 yrs$7,201
Kyle1,4909.2 kW$36,80021.7 yrs$7,142
Lockhart1,4909.2 kW$36,80021.7 yrs$7,142
Denison1,4899.2 kW$36,80021.7 yrs$7,113
Mesquite1,4889.2 kW$36,80021.7 yrs$7,083
Galveston1,4889.2 kW$36,80021.7 yrs$7,083
Corsicana1,4889.2 kW$36,80021.7 yrs$7,083
Bay City1,4869.2 kW$36,80021.7 yrs$7,024
Sulphur Springs1,4839.2 kW$36,80021.8 yrs$6,936
Dallas1,4819.2 kW$36,80021.8 yrs$6,877
Texas City1,4809.2 kW$36,80021.8 yrs$6,847
Santa Fe1,4809.2 kW$36,80021.8 yrs$6,847
Port Lavaca1,4809.2 kW$36,80021.8 yrs$6,847
Alvin1,4799.2 kW$36,80021.8 yrs$6,818
El Campo1,4799.2 kW$36,80021.8 yrs$6,818
Palestine1,4779.2 kW$36,80021.8 yrs$6,759
Austin1,4769.2 kW$36,80021.9 yrs$6,729
Cypress1,4719.2 kW$36,80021.9 yrs$6,582
Pearland1,4699.2 kW$36,80021.9 yrs$6,523
Brenham1,4699.2 kW$36,80021.9 yrs$6,523
Tyler1,4689.2 kW$36,80021.9 yrs$6,494
Greenville1,4669.2 kW$36,80022.0 yrs$6,435
Galena Park1,4669.2 kW$36,80022.0 yrs$6,435
Katy1,4659.2 kW$36,80022.0 yrs$6,405
Missouri City1,4639.2 kW$36,80022.0 yrs$6,346
Stafford1,4639.2 kW$36,80022.0 yrs$6,346
Four Corners1,4639.2 kW$36,80022.0 yrs$6,346
Pasadena1,4629.2 kW$36,80022.0 yrs$6,317
Longview1,4629.2 kW$36,80022.0 yrs$6,317
Groves1,4629.2 kW$36,80022.0 yrs$6,317
Mount Pleasant1,4609.2 kW$36,80022.0 yrs$6,258
La Marque1,4609.2 kW$36,80022.0 yrs$6,258
Victoria1,4599.2 kW$36,80022.1 yrs$6,228
Angleton1,4599.2 kW$36,80022.1 yrs$6,228
Pecan Grove1,4599.2 kW$36,80022.1 yrs$6,228
Baytown1,4589.2 kW$36,80022.1 yrs$6,199
Port Arthur1,4589.2 kW$36,80022.1 yrs$6,199
Canyon Lake1,4589.2 kW$36,80022.1 yrs$6,199
Fresno1,4589.2 kW$36,80022.1 yrs$6,199
New Territory1,4589.2 kW$36,80022.1 yrs$6,199
Dickinson1,4579.2 kW$36,80022.1 yrs$6,169
Bryan1,4569.2 kW$36,80022.1 yrs$6,140
Mission Bend1,4569.2 kW$36,80022.1 yrs$6,140
Kilgore1,4559.2 kW$36,80022.1 yrs$6,110
College Station1,4549.2 kW$36,80022.1 yrs$6,081
Deer Park1,4539.2 kW$36,80022.1 yrs$6,051
Cinco Ranch1,4519.2 kW$36,80022.2 yrs$5,992
Sienna Plantation1,4519.2 kW$36,80022.2 yrs$5,992
Clute1,4519.2 kW$36,80022.2 yrs$5,992
Webster1,4519.2 kW$36,80022.2 yrs$5,992
La Porte1,4509.2 kW$36,80022.2 yrs$5,963
Richmond1,4509.2 kW$36,80022.2 yrs$5,963
Friendswood1,4499.2 kW$36,80022.2 yrs$5,933
Alief1,4489.2 kW$36,80022.2 yrs$5,904
Sugar Land1,4489.2 kW$36,80022.2 yrs$5,904
Orange1,4489.2 kW$36,80022.2 yrs$5,904
Jacksonville1,4489.2 kW$36,80022.2 yrs$5,904
Greatwood1,4489.2 kW$36,80022.2 yrs$5,904
Lake Jackson1,4469.2 kW$36,80022.2 yrs$5,845
Seabrook1,4429.2 kW$36,80022.3 yrs$5,727
Rosenberg1,4419.2 kW$36,80022.3 yrs$5,697
League City1,4409.2 kW$36,80022.3 yrs$5,668
Bellaire1,4379.2 kW$36,80022.3 yrs$5,579
South Houston1,4379.2 kW$36,80022.3 yrs$5,579
Henderson1,4379.2 kW$36,80022.3 yrs$5,579
Humble1,4349.2 kW$36,80022.4 yrs$5,491
The Woodlands1,4329.2 kW$36,80022.4 yrs$5,432
Nederland1,4329.2 kW$36,80022.4 yrs$5,432
Spring1,4319.2 kW$36,80022.4 yrs$5,402
Tomball1,4269.6 kW$38,40022.5 yrs$5,483
Houston1,4219.6 kW$38,40022.5 yrs$5,329
Beaumont1,4179.6 kW$38,40022.6 yrs$5,206
Huntsville1,4169.6 kW$38,40022.6 yrs$5,176
Port Neches1,4159.6 kW$38,40022.6 yrs$5,145
Vidor1,4149.6 kW$38,40022.6 yrs$5,114
Atascocita1,4099.6 kW$38,40022.7 yrs$4,960
Channelview1,4049.6 kW$38,40022.8 yrs$4,806
Texarkana1,4019.6 kW$38,40022.8 yrs$4,714
Nacogdoches1,4019.6 kW$38,40022.8 yrs$4,714
Conroe1,3959.6 kW$38,40022.9 yrs$4,529
New Caney1,3869.6 kW$38,40023.0 yrs$4,252
Marshall1,3829.6 kW$38,40023.0 yrs$4,129
Lufkin1,36210.0 kW$40,00023.3 yrs$3,660
Lumberton1,35310.0 kW$40,00023.4 yrs$3,372