Solar panels in New Bedford, MA
Roofs in New Bedford get about 1,315 hours of usable sunlight a year — less than 79% 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 New Bedford → City averages are a starting point; your own roof's size, pitch and shading change the answer a lot.
What a typical New Bedford solar system costs
A 25-panel system (10 kW) is about right for an average New Bedford home using 10,800 kWh a year. It would produce roughly 11,178 kWh annually and offset 100% of that usage.
| System | Size | kWh/yr | Net cost | Saves/yr | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 panels | 3.2 kW | 3,577 | $6,384 | $1,077 | 5.9 yrs |
| 12 panels | 4.8 kW | 5,365 | $9,576 | $1,615 | 5.9 yrs |
| 16 panels | 6.4 kW | 7,154 | $12,768 | $2,153 | 5.9 yrs |
| 20 panels | 8 kW | 8,942 | $15,960 | $2,692 | 5.9 yrs |
| 26 panels | 10.4 kW | 11,625 | $20,748 | $3,313 | 6.3 yrs |
How we worked this out for New Bedford
Every number on this page comes from these seven steps. Nothing is a national average — the sunlight figure is measured from New Bedford rooftops.
| # | Step | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | What one panel makes here 400W ÷ 1000 × 1,315 sun hrs × 0.85 system losses |
447 kWh/yr |
| 2 | Panels needed to cover typical usage 10,800 kWh ÷ 447 kWh per panel |
25 panels |
| 3 | System size 25 panels × 400W |
10.00 kW |
| 4 | Annual production 10.00 kW × 1,315 hrs × 0.85 |
11,178 kWh/yr |
| 5 | Installed cost 10,000 W × $2.85 per watt, then −30% federal credit |
$19,950 |
| 6 | Annual saving 3,780 kWh used as generated × 30.1¢ + 7,398 kWh exported × 30.1¢ |
$3,279/yr |
| 7 | Payback $19,950 ÷ $3,279 per year |
6.1 years |
Step 6 matters more than it looks. Only 34% of what a system this size produces in New Bedford is used the moment it is generated; the other 7,398 kWh is exported and credited one-for-one under net metering. Because exports here are credited at or near retail, that split changes the payback very little — 5.9 years against the 6.1 we show. In places where exports pay a fraction of retail the same split moves payback by years, which is why we model it explicitly rather than assuming.
Assumptions: 400W panels, 15% system losses (inverter, wiring, heat, soiling), $2.85/W installed, 10,800 kWh typical annual household use, 30.1¢/kWh electricity. Change any of those and every figure above moves — which is exactly why a single national "solar costs X" number is misleading.
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 New Bedford gets 1,315 sun hours
That figure comes from Google's analysis of real rooftops across New Bedford — 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 New Bedford reaches about 1,596 hours, roughly 21% better than typical.
The numbers behind this page
| Typical usable sunlight | 1,315 hrs/yr |
|---|---|
| Unshaded roof | 1,596 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 | 10 |
| Google imagery from | 2022 |
When New Bedford actually produces
Annual totals hide the thing that catches people out: 37% of New Bedford's yearly sunlight arrives in May–July, and just 13% across November–January.
| Month | Sun hrs | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 56 | |
| Feb | 78 | |
| Mar | 106 | |
| Apr | 135 | |
| May | 157 | |
| Jun | 165 | |
| Jul | 161 | |
| Aug | 143 | |
| Sep | 116 | |
| Oct | 86 | |
| Nov | 61 | |
| Dec | 50 |
New Bedford 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 New Bedford's latitude, not separately measured, so treat the monthly figures as the shape of a typical year rather than a forecast.
How New Bedford compares to the other 788 cities
| Measure | New Bedford | Rank of 788 |
|---|---|---|
| Usable sunlight | 1,315 hrs | 623rd |
| Sunlight lost to shade | 18% | 6th most |
| Median roof size | 128 m² | 626th largest |
| Electricity rate | 30.1¢ | 82nd highest |
| Payback | 6.1 yrs | 24th fastest |
| Grid carbon | 445 kg/MWh | 638th dirtiest |
What actually stands out about New Bedford:
- Shading is a real problem here. New Bedford loses 18% of its potential sunlight to trees, chimneys and neighbouring buildings — the 6th-worst of the 788 cities measured. Panel placement matters more here than in most places, and a roof survey is worth more than a phone quote.
- Dimmer than the rest of Massachusetts. New Bedford roofs get 6% less usable sunlight than the typical Massachusetts city we've measured — statewide averages will overstate what you can expect here.
- Expensive electricity works in your favour. At 30.1¢/kWh, Massachusetts is among the priciest places to buy power — which is exactly what makes generating your own pay back faster.
Cities with almost the same sunlight
These are the closest matches to New Bedford's 1,315 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canton, OH | 1,316 | 15.2¢ | 12 yrs |
| Escanaba, MI | 1,314 | 19.1¢ | 9.6 yrs |
| Hillsboro, OR | 1,317 | 12.4¢ | 14.8 yrs |
| Coeur d'Alene, ID | 1,311 | 11.2¢ | 16.4 yrs |
Nearby cities
See all of Massachusetts → statewide sunlight, rates, incentives and every city we've measured.
New Bedford solar questions
How many solar panels do I need in New Bedford?
About 25 panels for an average home using 10,800 kWh a year. New Bedford roofs get 1,315 usable sun hours, so each 400W panel produces roughly 447 kWh annually. A typical New Bedford roof fits about 45 panels, so check your usable roof area before assuming that many will fit.
Is solar worth it in New Bedford?
At 30.1¢/kWh and 1,315 sun hours, a typical system pays for itself in about 6.1 years and returns roughly $62,030 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 New Bedford?
A 10 kW system costs about $28,500 before incentives and $19,950 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.