Solar panels in Greenfield, MA
Roofs in Greenfield get about 1,371 hours of usable sunlight a year — less than 86% 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 Greenfield → City averages are a starting point; your own roof's size, pitch and shading change the answer a lot.
What a typical Greenfield solar system costs
A 24-panel system (9.6 kW) is about right for an average Greenfield home using 10,800 kWh a year. It would produce roughly 11,187 kWh annually and offset 100% of that usage.
| System | Size | kWh/yr | Net cost | Saves/yr | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 panels | 3.2 kW | 3,729 | $6,384 | $1,122 | 5.7 yrs |
| 12 panels | 4.8 kW | 5,594 | $9,576 | $1,684 | 5.7 yrs |
| 16 panels | 6.4 kW | 7,458 | $12,768 | $2,245 | 5.7 yrs |
| 20 panels | 8 kW | 9,323 | $15,960 | $2,806 | 5.7 yrs |
| 26 panels | 10.4 kW | 12,120 | $20,748 | $3,350 | 6.2 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 Greenfield gets 1,371 sun hours
That figure comes from Google's analysis of real rooftops across Greenfield — 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 Greenfield reaches about 1,542 hours, roughly 12% better than typical.
The numbers behind this page
| Typical usable sunlight | 1,371 hrs/yr |
|---|---|
| Unshaded roof | 1,542 hrs/yr |
| Electricity rate (Massachusetts avg) | 30.1¢/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 | 34% |
| Paid for exported power | full retail (net metering) |
| Rooftops sampled here | 9 |
| Google imagery from | 2018 |
When Greenfield actually produces
Annual totals hide the thing that catches people out: 37% of Greenfield's yearly sunlight arrives in May–July, and just 12% across November–January.
| Month | Sun hrs | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 57 | |
| Feb | 80 | |
| Mar | 110 | |
| Apr | 142 | |
| May | 165 | |
| Jun | 175 | |
| Jul | 170 | |
| Aug | 151 | |
| Sep | 121 | |
| Oct | 88 | |
| Nov | 62 | |
| Dec | 51 |
Greenfield produces about 3.4× 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 Greenfield's latitude, not separately measured, so treat the monthly figures as the shape of a typical year rather than a forecast.
How Greenfield compares to the other 673 cities
| Measure | Greenfield | Rank of 673 |
|---|---|---|
| Usable sunlight | 1,371 hrs | 580th |
| Sunlight lost to shade | 11% | 44th most |
| Median roof size | 194 m² | 378th largest |
| Electricity rate | 30.1¢ | 87th highest |
| Payback | 5.8 yrs | 20th fastest |
| Grid carbon | 445 kg/MWh | 541st dirtiest |
What actually stands out about Greenfield:
- Shading is a real problem here. Greenfield loses 11% of its potential sunlight to trees, chimneys and neighbouring buildings — the 44th-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.
- Older imagery. Google's aerial capture of Greenfield dates from 2018. Tree growth and new construction since then are not reflected.
Cities with almost the same sunlight
These are the closest matches to Greenfield's 1,371 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Utica, NY | 1,371 | 24.3¢ | 7.2 yrs |
| Drummondville, QC | 1,371 | 7.9¢ | 31.8 yrs |
| Buffalo, NY | 1,372 | 24.3¢ | 7.2 yrs |
| Ottawa, ON | 1,372 | 15.2¢ | 16.5 yrs |
Nearby cities
See all of Massachusetts → statewide sunlight, rates, incentives and every city we've measured.
Greenfield solar questions
How many solar panels do I need in Greenfield?
About 24 panels for an average home using 10,800 kWh a year. Greenfield roofs get 1,371 usable sun hours, so each 400W panel produces roughly 466 kWh annually. A typical Greenfield roof fits about 68 panels, so roof space is unlikely to be your limit.
Is solar worth it in Greenfield?
At 30.1¢/kWh and 1,371 sun hours, a typical system pays for itself in about 5.8 years and returns roughly $62,847 over a 25-year panel life. That is a solid return, and it improves further if electricity prices rise. Exported power earns full retail credit here.
How much do solar panels cost in Greenfield?
A 9.6 kW system costs about $27,360 before incentives and $19,152 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 Massachusetts 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.