Solar Panel Cost & Payback in Virginia
Home solar in Virginia pays back in a median 13.9 years across the 118 places we cover, at an average electricity price of 16.8¢/kWh and about $3.60 per watt installed. Poquoson has the fastest payback (13.1 years).
Solar estimates for Virginia cities and towns
Sorted by fastest payback. Each figure is for a system sized to an average Virginia home (1,032 kWh/month).
| Place | kWh per kW | System | Cost | Payback | 25-yr savings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poquoson | 1,447 | 8.8 kW | $31,680 | 13.1 yrs | $36,854 |
| East Hampton | 1,440 | 8.8 kW | $31,680 | 13.1 yrs | $36,522 |
| Chesapeake | 1,439 | 8.8 kW | $31,680 | 13.2 yrs | $36,475 |
| Norfolk | 1,434 | 8.8 kW | $31,680 | 13.2 yrs | $36,238 |
| Portsmouth | 1,434 | 8.8 kW | $31,680 | 13.2 yrs | $36,238 |
| Gloucester Point | 1,429 | 8.8 kW | $31,680 | 13.2 yrs | $36,001 |
| Portsmouth Heights | 1,428 | 8.8 kW | $31,680 | 13.2 yrs | $35,954 |
| Virginia Beach | 1,427 | 8.8 kW | $31,680 | 13.2 yrs | $35,906 |
| Suffolk | 1,412 | 8.8 kW | $31,680 | 13.4 yrs | $35,196 |
| South Suffolk | 1,412 | 8.8 kW | $31,680 | 13.4 yrs | $35,196 |
| Newport News | 1,408 | 8.8 kW | $31,680 | 13.4 yrs | $35,006 |
| Fort Lee | 1,400 | 9.2 kW | $33,120 | 13.5 yrs | $36,201 |
| Annandale | 1,397 | 9.2 kW | $33,120 | 13.5 yrs | $36,053 |
| West Falls Church | 1,397 | 9.2 kW | $33,120 | 13.5 yrs | $36,053 |
| Danville | 1,396 | 9.2 kW | $33,120 | 13.5 yrs | $36,003 |
| Colonial Heights | 1,396 | 9.2 kW | $33,120 | 13.5 yrs | $36,003 |
| Hampton | 1,394 | 9.2 kW | $33,120 | 13.5 yrs | $35,904 |
| Arlington | 1,380 | 9.2 kW | $33,120 | 13.6 yrs | $35,211 |
| Brandermill | 1,380 | 9.2 kW | $33,120 | 13.6 yrs | $35,211 |
| Chantilly | 1,379 | 9.2 kW | $33,120 | 13.7 yrs | $35,162 |
| Chester | 1,379 | 9.2 kW | $33,120 | 13.7 yrs | $35,162 |
| Rose Hill | 1,379 | 9.2 kW | $33,120 | 13.7 yrs | $35,162 |
| Groveton | 1,379 | 9.2 kW | $33,120 | 13.7 yrs | $35,162 |
| Martinsville | 1,378 | 9.2 kW | $33,120 | 13.7 yrs | $35,112 |
| Stuarts Draft | 1,374 | 9.2 kW | $33,120 | 13.7 yrs | $34,914 |
| Springfield | 1,372 | 9.2 kW | $33,120 | 13.7 yrs | $34,815 |
| Brambleton | 1,372 | 9.2 kW | $33,120 | 13.7 yrs | $34,815 |
| Seven Corners | 1,372 | 9.2 kW | $33,120 | 13.7 yrs | $34,815 |
| Hopewell | 1,371 | 9.2 kW | $33,120 | 13.7 yrs | $34,766 |
| Baileys Crossroads | 1,370 | 9.2 kW | $33,120 | 13.7 yrs | $34,716 |
| Laurel | 1,370 | 9.2 kW | $33,120 | 13.7 yrs | $34,716 |
| Williamsburg | 1,370 | 9.2 kW | $33,120 | 13.7 yrs | $34,716 |
| Glen Allen | 1,370 | 9.2 kW | $33,120 | 13.7 yrs | $34,716 |
| Lake Barcroft | 1,370 | 9.2 kW | $33,120 | 13.7 yrs | $34,716 |
| McLean | 1,369 | 9.2 kW | $33,120 | 13.7 yrs | $34,667 |
| Lincolnia | 1,368 | 9.2 kW | $33,120 | 13.7 yrs | $34,617 |
| Meadowbrook | 1,368 | 9.2 kW | $33,120 | 13.7 yrs | $34,617 |
| Highland Springs | 1,368 | 9.2 kW | $33,120 | 13.7 yrs | $34,617 |
| Harrisonburg | 1,366 | 9.2 kW | $33,120 | 13.8 yrs | $34,518 |
| Rosslyn | 1,366 | 9.2 kW | $33,120 | 13.8 yrs | $34,518 |
| Midlothian | 1,364 | 9.2 kW | $33,120 | 13.8 yrs | $34,419 |
| Gainesville | 1,364 | 9.2 kW | $33,120 | 13.8 yrs | $34,419 |
| Franconia | 1,363 | 9.2 kW | $33,120 | 13.8 yrs | $34,369 |
| Wyndham | 1,363 | 9.2 kW | $33,120 | 13.8 yrs | $34,369 |
| Mechanicsville | 1,362 | 9.2 kW | $33,120 | 13.8 yrs | $34,320 |
| Tysons | 1,362 | 9.2 kW | $33,120 | 13.8 yrs | $34,320 |
| East Highland Park | 1,362 | 9.2 kW | $33,120 | 13.8 yrs | $34,320 |
| Short Pump | 1,361 | 9.2 kW | $33,120 | 13.8 yrs | $34,270 |
| Herndon | 1,361 | 9.2 kW | $33,120 | 13.8 yrs | $34,270 |
| West Springfield | 1,361 | 9.2 kW | $33,120 | 13.8 yrs | $34,270 |
| Staunton | 1,359 | 9.2 kW | $33,120 | 13.8 yrs | $34,171 |
| Fairfax Station | 1,359 | 9.2 kW | $33,120 | 13.8 yrs | $34,171 |
| Reston | 1,358 | 9.2 kW | $33,120 | 13.8 yrs | $34,122 |
| Purcellville | 1,356 | 9.2 kW | $33,120 | 13.9 yrs | $34,023 |
| Bon Air | 1,355 | 9.2 kW | $33,120 | 13.9 yrs | $33,973 |
| Wolf Trap | 1,355 | 9.2 kW | $33,120 | 13.9 yrs | $33,973 |
| Hybla Valley | 1,355 | 9.2 kW | $33,120 | 13.9 yrs | $33,973 |
| Mount Vernon | 1,355 | 9.2 kW | $33,120 | 13.9 yrs | $33,973 |
| Bristol | 1,354 | 9.2 kW | $33,120 | 13.9 yrs | $33,924 |
| Vienna | 1,354 | 9.2 kW | $33,120 | 13.9 yrs | $33,924 |
| Bull Run | 1,354 | 9.2 kW | $33,120 | 13.9 yrs | $33,924 |
| Richmond | 1,353 | 9.2 kW | $33,120 | 13.9 yrs | $33,874 |
| Tuckahoe | 1,353 | 9.2 kW | $33,120 | 13.9 yrs | $33,874 |
| Linton Hall | 1,353 | 9.2 kW | $33,120 | 13.9 yrs | $33,874 |
| Sterling | 1,353 | 9.2 kW | $33,120 | 13.9 yrs | $33,874 |
| Falls Church | 1,353 | 9.2 kW | $33,120 | 13.9 yrs | $33,874 |
| Lowes Island | 1,353 | 9.2 kW | $33,120 | 13.9 yrs | $33,874 |
| Great Falls | 1,352 | 9.2 kW | $33,120 | 13.9 yrs | $33,825 |
| Sugarland Run | 1,352 | 9.2 kW | $33,120 | 13.9 yrs | $33,825 |
| South Riding | 1,351 | 9.2 kW | $33,120 | 13.9 yrs | $33,775 |
| Waynesboro | 1,350 | 9.2 kW | $33,120 | 13.9 yrs | $33,726 |
| Idylwood | 1,350 | 9.2 kW | $33,120 | 13.9 yrs | $33,726 |
| Merrifield | 1,350 | 9.2 kW | $33,120 | 13.9 yrs | $33,726 |
| Broadlands | 1,350 | 9.2 kW | $33,120 | 13.9 yrs | $33,726 |
| Lakeside | 1,350 | 9.2 kW | $33,120 | 13.9 yrs | $33,726 |
| Leesburg | 1,347 | 9.2 kW | $33,120 | 13.9 yrs | $33,577 |
| Ashburn | 1,345 | 9.6 kW | $34,560 | 14.0 yrs | $34,934 |
| Fairfax | 1,345 | 9.6 kW | $34,560 | 14.0 yrs | $34,934 |
| Alexandria | 1,344 | 9.6 kW | $34,560 | 14.0 yrs | $34,882 |
| Fredericksburg | 1,344 | 9.6 kW | $34,560 | 14.0 yrs | $34,882 |
| Huntington | 1,344 | 9.6 kW | $34,560 | 14.0 yrs | $34,882 |
| Oak Hill | 1,343 | 9.6 kW | $34,560 | 14.0 yrs | $34,830 |
| Petersburg | 1,343 | 9.6 kW | $34,560 | 14.0 yrs | $34,830 |
| Woodlawn | 1,343 | 9.6 kW | $34,560 | 14.0 yrs | $34,830 |
| Burke | 1,342 | 9.6 kW | $34,560 | 14.0 yrs | $34,779 |
| Kings Park West | 1,341 | 9.6 kW | $34,560 | 14.0 yrs | $34,727 |
| Charlottesville | 1,340 | 9.6 kW | $34,560 | 14.0 yrs | $34,675 |
| Centreville | 1,339 | 9.6 kW | $34,560 | 14.0 yrs | $34,624 |
| Manassas | 1,337 | 9.6 kW | $34,560 | 14.0 yrs | $34,520 |
| Manassas Park | 1,337 | 9.6 kW | $34,560 | 14.0 yrs | $34,520 |
| Madison Heights | 1,336 | 9.6 kW | $34,560 | 14.0 yrs | $34,469 |
| Oakton | 1,335 | 9.6 kW | $34,560 | 14.0 yrs | $34,417 |
| Lorton | 1,335 | 9.6 kW | $34,560 | 14.0 yrs | $34,417 |
| Dranesville | 1,334 | 9.6 kW | $34,560 | 14.1 yrs | $34,365 |
| Countryside | 1,332 | 9.6 kW | $34,560 | 14.1 yrs | $34,262 |
| Montclair | 1,331 | 9.6 kW | $34,560 | 14.1 yrs | $34,210 |
| Sudley | 1,331 | 9.6 kW | $34,560 | 14.1 yrs | $34,210 |
| Newington | 1,331 | 9.6 kW | $34,560 | 14.1 yrs | $34,210 |
| Timberlake | 1,331 | 9.6 kW | $34,560 | 14.1 yrs | $34,210 |
| Warrenton | 1,330 | 9.6 kW | $34,560 | 14.1 yrs | $34,159 |
| Blacksburg | 1,329 | 9.6 kW | $34,560 | 14.1 yrs | $34,107 |
| Dale City | 1,324 | 9.6 kW | $34,560 | 14.1 yrs | $33,849 |
| Fort Hunt | 1,324 | 9.6 kW | $34,560 | 14.1 yrs | $33,849 |
| Lake Ridge | 1,323 | 9.6 kW | $34,560 | 14.2 yrs | $33,797 |
| Buckhall | 1,322 | 9.6 kW | $34,560 | 14.2 yrs | $33,745 |
| West Lynchburg | 1,321 | 9.6 kW | $34,560 | 14.2 yrs | $33,694 |
| Lynchburg | 1,320 | 9.6 kW | $34,560 | 14.2 yrs | $33,642 |
| Cave Spring | 1,315 | 9.6 kW | $34,560 | 14.2 yrs | $33,384 |
| Culpeper | 1,311 | 9.6 kW | $34,560 | 14.3 yrs | $33,177 |
| Lake Monticello | 1,310 | 9.6 kW | $34,560 | 14.3 yrs | $33,125 |
| Salem | 1,307 | 9.6 kW | $34,560 | 14.3 yrs | $32,970 |
| Christiansburg | 1,307 | 9.6 kW | $34,560 | 14.3 yrs | $32,970 |
| Front Royal | 1,305 | 9.6 kW | $34,560 | 14.3 yrs | $32,867 |
| Cherry Hill | 1,295 | 9.6 kW | $34,560 | 14.4 yrs | $32,350 |
| Hollins | 1,290 | 9.6 kW | $34,560 | 14.5 yrs | $32,092 |
| Roanoke | 1,288 | 10.0 kW | $36,000 | 14.5 yrs | $33,321 |
| Winchester | 1,287 | 10.0 kW | $36,000 | 14.5 yrs | $33,268 |
| Radford | 1,283 | 10.0 kW | $36,000 | 14.5 yrs | $33,052 |