Solar panels in Ithaca, NY
Roofs in Ithaca get about 1,346 hours of usable sunlight a year — less than 90% 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 Ithaca → City averages are a starting point; your own roof's size, pitch and shading change the answer a lot.
What a typical Ithaca solar system costs
A 24-panel system (9.6 kW) is about right for an average Ithaca home using 10,800 kWh a year. It would produce roughly 10,983 kWh annually and offset 100% of that usage.
| System | Size | kWh/yr | Net cost | Saves/yr | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 panels | 3.2 kW | 3,661 | $6,384 | $890 | 7.2 yrs |
| 12 panels | 4.8 kW | 5,492 | $9,576 | $1,334 | 7.2 yrs |
| 16 panels | 6.4 kW | 7,322 | $12,768 | $1,779 | 7.2 yrs |
| 20 panels | 8 kW | 9,153 | $15,960 | $2,224 | 7.2 yrs |
| 26 panels | 10.4 kW | 11,899 | $20,748 | $2,691 | 7.7 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 Ithaca gets 1,346 sun hours
That figure comes from Google's analysis of real rooftops across Ithaca — 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 Ithaca reaches about 1,440 hours, roughly 7% better than typical.
The numbers behind this page
| Typical usable sunlight | 1,346 hrs/yr |
|---|---|
| Unshaded roof | 1,440 hrs/yr |
| Electricity rate (New York avg) | 24.3¢/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 | 10 |
| Google imagery from | 2021 |
When Ithaca actually produces
Annual totals hide the thing that catches people out: 37% of Ithaca's yearly sunlight arrives in May–July, and just 12% across November–January.
| Month | Sun hrs | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 56 | |
| Feb | 78 | |
| Mar | 108 | |
| Apr | 139 | |
| May | 162 | |
| Jun | 171 | |
| Jul | 166 | |
| Aug | 148 | |
| Sep | 119 | |
| Oct | 87 | |
| Nov | 61 | |
| Dec | 50 |
Ithaca 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 Ithaca's latitude, not separately measured, so treat the monthly figures as the shape of a typical year rather than a forecast.
How Ithaca compares to the other 673 cities
| Measure | Ithaca | Rank of 673 |
|---|---|---|
| Usable sunlight | 1,346 hrs | 607th |
| Sunlight lost to shade | 7% | 227th most |
| Median roof size | 251 m² | 205th largest |
| Electricity rate | 24.3¢ | 123rd highest |
| Payback | 7.3 yrs | 50th fastest |
| Grid carbon | 464 kg/MWh | 504th dirtiest |
What actually stands out about Ithaca:
- Older imagery. Google's aerial capture of Ithaca dates from 2021. Tree growth and new construction since then are not reflected.
Cities with almost the same sunlight
These are the closest matches to Ithaca's 1,346 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Akron, OH | 1,346 | 15.2¢ | 11.6 yrs |
| Trois-Rivières, QC | 1,347 | 7.9¢ | 31.9 yrs |
| Calgary, AB | 1,348 | 18.1¢ | 13.9 yrs |
| Nashua, NH | 1,348 | 25.3¢ | 7 yrs |
Nearby cities
See all of New York → statewide sunlight, rates, incentives and every city we've measured.
Ithaca solar questions
How many solar panels do I need in Ithaca?
About 24 panels for an average home using 10,800 kWh a year. Ithaca roofs get 1,346 usable sun hours, so each 400W panel produces roughly 458 kWh annually. A typical Ithaca roof fits about 81 panels, so roof space is unlikely to be your limit.
Is solar worth it in Ithaca?
At 24.3¢/kWh and 1,346 sun hours, a typical system pays for itself in about 7.3 years and returns roughly $46,736 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 Ithaca?
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 New York 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.