Solar panels in Jamestown, NY
Roofs in Jamestown get about 1,413 hours of usable sunlight a year — less than 78% 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 Jamestown → City averages are a starting point; your own roof's size, pitch and shading change the answer a lot.
What a typical Jamestown solar system costs
A 23-panel system (9.2 kW) is about right for an average Jamestown home using 10,800 kWh a year. It would produce roughly 11,050 kWh annually and offset 100% of that usage.
| System | Size | kWh/yr | Net cost | Saves/yr | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 panels | 3.2 kW | 3,843 | $6,384 | $934 | 6.8 yrs |
| 12 panels | 4.8 kW | 5,765 | $9,576 | $1,401 | 6.8 yrs |
| 16 panels | 6.4 kW | 7,687 | $12,768 | $1,868 | 6.8 yrs |
| 20 panels | 8 kW | 9,608 | $15,960 | $2,335 | 6.8 yrs |
| 26 panels | 10.4 kW | 12,491 | $20,748 | $2,727 | 7.6 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 Jamestown gets 1,413 sun hours
That figure comes from Google's analysis of real rooftops across Jamestown — 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 Jamestown reaches about 1,452 hours, roughly 3% better than typical.
The numbers behind this page
| Typical usable sunlight | 1,413 hrs/yr |
|---|---|
| Unshaded roof | 1,452 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 | 11 |
| Google imagery from | 2022 |
When Jamestown actually produces
Annual totals hide the thing that catches people out: 37% of Jamestown's yearly sunlight arrives in May–July, and just 13% across November–January.
| Month | Sun hrs | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 60 | |
| Feb | 83 | |
| Mar | 113 | |
| Apr | 146 | |
| May | 169 | |
| Jun | 179 | |
| Jul | 174 | |
| Aug | 155 | |
| Sep | 125 | |
| Oct | 92 | |
| Nov | 65 | |
| Dec | 53 |
Jamestown 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 Jamestown's latitude, not separately measured, so treat the monthly figures as the shape of a typical year rather than a forecast.
How Jamestown compares to the other 673 cities
| Measure | Jamestown | Rank of 673 |
|---|---|---|
| Usable sunlight | 1,413 hrs | 525th |
| Sunlight lost to shade | 3% | 575th most |
| Median roof size | 259 m² | 195th largest |
| Electricity rate | 24.3¢ | 124th highest |
| Payback | 7 yrs | 40th fastest |
| Grid carbon | 464 kg/MWh | 505th dirtiest |
What actually stands out about Jamestown:
- Plenty of roof to work with. Typical roofs here fit around 102 panels — roughly 4× what an average home needs. Roof size will not be what limits your system in Jamestown.
Cities with almost the same sunlight
These are the closest matches to Jamestown's 1,413 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hamilton, ON | 1,413 | 15.2¢ | 15.9 yrs |
| Louisville, KY | 1,413 | 12.2¢ | 13.8 yrs |
| Fredericton, NB | 1,413 | 13.4¢ | 18 yrs |
| Columbus, OH | 1,414 | 15.2¢ | 11.1 yrs |
Nearby cities
See all of New York → statewide sunlight, rates, incentives and every city we've measured.
Jamestown solar questions
How many solar panels do I need in Jamestown?
About 23 panels for an average home using 10,800 kWh a year. Jamestown roofs get 1,413 usable sun hours, so each 400W panel produces roughly 480 kWh annually. A typical Jamestown roof fits about 102 panels, so roof space is unlikely to be your limit.
Is solar worth it in Jamestown?
At 24.3¢/kWh and 1,413 sun hours, a typical system pays for itself in about 7 years and returns roughly $47,635 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 Jamestown?
A 9.2 kW system costs about $26,220 before incentives and $18,354 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.