Solar panels in Newton, MA
Roofs in Newton get about 1,375 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 Newton → City averages are a starting point; your own roof's size, pitch and shading change the answer a lot.
What a typical Newton solar system costs
A 24-panel system (9.6 kW) is about right for an average Newton home using 10,800 kWh a year. It would produce roughly 11,220 kWh annually and offset 100% of that usage.
| System | Size | kWh/yr | Net cost | Saves/yr | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 panels | 3.2 kW | 3,740 | $6,384 | $1,126 | 5.7 yrs |
| 12 panels | 4.8 kW | 5,610 | $9,576 | $1,689 | 5.7 yrs |
| 16 panels | 6.4 kW | 7,480 | $12,768 | $2,251 | 5.7 yrs |
| 20 panels | 8 kW | 9,350 | $15,960 | $2,814 | 5.7 yrs |
| 26 panels | 10.4 kW | 12,155 | $20,748 | $3,353 | 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 Newton gets 1,375 sun hours
That figure comes from Google's analysis of real rooftops across Newton — 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 Newton reaches about 1,495 hours, roughly 9% better than typical.
The numbers behind this page
| Typical usable sunlight | 1,375 hrs/yr |
|---|---|
| Unshaded roof | 1,495 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 | 13 |
| Google imagery from | 2024 |
Nearby cities
See all of Massachusetts → statewide sunlight, rates, incentives and every city we've measured.
Newton solar questions
How many solar panels do I need in Newton?
About 24 panels for an average home. Newton roofs get 1,375 usable sun hours a year, so each 400W panel produces roughly 468 kWh annually.
Is solar worth it in Newton?
At 30.1¢/kWh and 1,375 sun hours, a typical system pays for itself in about 5.8 years and returns roughly $62,908 over 25 years. That is a solid return.
How much do solar panels cost in Newton?
A 9.6 kW system costs about $27,360 before incentives and $19,152 after the 30% federal tax credit. Prices vary by installer, roof complexity and equipment.
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.