Solar panels in Bradford, PA
Roofs in Bradford get about 1,226 hours of usable sunlight a year — less than 97% of the cities we've measured. Here's what that means in cost, savings and payback, using real rooftop data rather than a national average.
Check your specific roof in Bradford → City averages are a starting point; your own roof's size, pitch and shading change the answer a lot.
What a typical Bradford solar system costs
A 26-panel system (10.4 kW) is about right for an average Bradford home using 10,800 kWh a year. It would produce roughly 10,838 kWh annually and offset 100% of that usage.
| System | Size | kWh/yr | Net cost | Saves/yr | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 panels | 3.2 kW | 3,335 | $6,384 | $604 | 10.6 yrs |
| 12 panels | 4.8 kW | 5,002 | $9,576 | $905 | 10.6 yrs |
| 16 panels | 6.4 kW | 6,669 | $12,768 | $1,207 | 10.6 yrs |
| 20 panels | 8 kW | 8,337 | $15,960 | $1,509 | 10.6 yrs |
| 26 panels | 10.4 kW | 10,838 | $20,748 | $1,957 | 10.6 yrs |
Notice that payback barely improves as systems get bigger, and eventually gets worse. That's because you can only save money on electricity you were going to buy anyway. Once a system covers your usage, extra panels mostly generate exports at a much lower rate.
Why Bradford gets 1,226 sun hours
That figure comes from Google's analysis of real rooftops across Bradford — it already accounts for shading from trees, chimneys and neighbouring buildings, which is why it's lower than the raw "hours of daylight" figures you'll see elsewhere. An unusually open, unshaded roof in Bradford reaches about 1,366 hours, roughly 11% better than typical.
The numbers behind this page
| Typical usable sunlight | 1,226 hrs/yr |
|---|---|
| Unshaded roof | 1,366 hrs/yr |
| Electricity rate (Pennsylvania avg) | 18.1¢/kWh |
| Installed cost assumed | $2.85/W |
| Panel size assumed | 400 W |
| Federal tax credit | 30% |
| Typical household usage | 10,800 kWh/yr |
| Power used as generated | 35% |
| Paid for exported power | full retail (net metering) |
| Rooftops sampled here | 3 |
| Google imagery from | 2022 |
When Bradford actually produces
Annual totals hide the thing that catches people out: 37% of Bradford's yearly sunlight arrives in May–July, and just 13% across November–January.
| Month | Sun hrs | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 52 | |
| Feb | 72 | |
| Mar | 98 | |
| Apr | 126 | |
| May | 147 | |
| Jun | 155 | |
| Jul | 151 | |
| Aug | 134 | |
| Sep | 108 | |
| Oct | 80 | |
| Nov | 57 | |
| Dec | 47 |
Bradford produces about 3.3× as much in Jun as in Dec — a normal mid-latitude swing. Expect real winter shortfall and summer surplus rather than steady year-round output.
The annual total is measured from Google's rooftop imagery. Its split across months is calculated from solar geometry at Bradford's latitude, not separately measured, so treat the monthly figures as the shape of a typical year rather than a forecast.
How Bradford compares to the other 673 cities
| Measure | Bradford | Rank of 673 |
|---|---|---|
| Usable sunlight | 1,226 hrs | 656th |
| Sunlight lost to shade | 10% | 67th most |
| Median roof size | 34 m² | 672nd largest |
| Electricity rate | 18.1¢ | 190th highest |
| Payback | 10.6 yrs | 386th fastest |
| Grid carbon | 654 kg/MWh | 338th dirtiest |
What actually stands out about Bradford:
- Shading is a real problem here. Bradford loses 10% of its potential sunlight to trees, chimneys and neighbouring buildings — the 67th-worst of the 673 cities measured. Panel placement matters more here than in most places, and a roof survey is worth more than a phone quote.
- Roof space is the binding constraint. A typical Bradford roof fits about 8 panels and a typical home needs 26 — so there is little room to oversize. If you add an EV or heat pump later, plan the array for it now.
- Small roofs. The median Bradford roof is 34 m², smaller than 100% of cities measured — worth checking your own footprint before assuming a standard system fits.
- Dimmer than the rest of Pennsylvania. Bradford roofs get 11% less usable sunlight than the typical Pennsylvania city we've measured — statewide averages will overstate what you can expect here.
Cities with almost the same sunlight
These are the closest matches to Bradford's 1,226 usable sun hours from other states and provinces. Same sunlight, different electricity prices — which is usually what decides whether solar is worth it.
| City | Sun hrs | Rate | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bellingham, WA | 1,222 | 11.3¢ | 17 yrs |
| Kent, WA | 1,232 | 11.3¢ | 17 yrs |
| Aberdeen, WA | 1,232 | 11.3¢ | 17 yrs |
| Olympia, WA | 1,240 | 11.3¢ | 16.9 yrs |
Nearby cities
See all of Pennsylvania → statewide sunlight, rates, incentives and every city we've measured.
Bradford solar questions
How many solar panels do I need in Bradford?
About 26 panels for an average home using 10,800 kWh a year. Bradford roofs get 1,226 usable sun hours, so each 400W panel produces roughly 417 kWh annually. A typical Bradford roof fits about 8 panels, so check your usable roof area before assuming that many will fit.
Is solar worth it in Bradford?
At 18.1¢/kWh and 1,226 sun hours, a typical system pays for itself in about 10.6 years and returns roughly $28,165 over a 25-year panel life. That is slower than average, so compare several quotes before committing. Exported power earns full retail credit here.
How much do solar panels cost in Bradford?
A 10.4 kW system costs about $29,640 before incentives and $20,748 after the 30% federal tax credit. That works out near $2.85 per watt installed. Roof pitch, shading, electrical panel upgrades and equipment choice move the price most, which is why quotes for the same house can differ by thousands.
Worth reading before you buy
Estimates only, generated 2026-08-22 from Google Solar API rooftop samples and average Pennsylvania electricity rates. Not a quote and not financial advice. Your roof, usage, utility plan and local incentives will change these numbers — get real quotes before buying.