Solar panels in Paterson, NJ
Roofs in Paterson get about 1,362 hours of usable sunlight a year — less than 75% 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 Paterson → City averages are a starting point; your own roof's size, pitch and shading change the answer a lot.
What a typical Paterson solar system costs
A 24-panel system (9.6 kW) is about right for an average Paterson home using 10,800 kWh a year. It would produce roughly 11,114 kWh annually and offset 100% of that usage.
| System | Size | kWh/yr | Net cost | Saves/yr | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 panels | 3.2 kW | 3,705 | $6,384 | $719 | 8.9 yrs |
| 12 panels | 4.8 kW | 5,557 | $9,576 | $1,078 | 8.9 yrs |
| 16 panels | 6.4 kW | 7,409 | $12,768 | $1,437 | 8.9 yrs |
| 20 panels | 8 kW | 9,262 | $15,960 | $1,797 | 8.9 yrs |
| 26 panels | 10.4 kW | 12,040 | $20,748 | $2,155 | 9.6 yrs |
How we worked this out for Paterson
Every number on this page comes from these seven steps. Nothing is a national average — the sunlight figure is measured from Paterson rooftops.
| # | Step | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | What one panel makes here 400W ÷ 1000 × 1,362 sun hrs × 0.85 system losses |
463 kWh/yr |
| 2 | Panels needed to cover typical usage 10,800 kWh ÷ 463 kWh per panel |
24 panels |
| 3 | System size 24 panels × 400W |
9.60 kW |
| 4 | Annual production 9.60 kW × 1,362 hrs × 0.85 |
11,114 kWh/yr |
| 5 | Installed cost 9,600 W × $2.85 per watt, then −30% federal credit |
$19,152 |
| 6 | Annual saving 3,780 kWh used as generated × 19.4¢ + 7,334 kWh exported × 19.4¢ |
$2,110/yr |
| 7 | Payback $19,152 ÷ $2,110 per year |
9.1 years |
Step 6 matters more than it looks. Only 34% of what a system this size produces in Paterson is used the moment it is generated; the other 7,334 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 — 8.9 years against the 9.1 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, 19.4¢/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 Paterson gets 1,362 sun hours
That figure comes from Google's analysis of real rooftops across Paterson — 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 Paterson reaches about 1,526 hours, roughly 12% better than typical.
The numbers behind this page
| Typical usable sunlight | 1,362 hrs/yr |
|---|---|
| Unshaded roof | 1,526 hrs/yr |
| Electricity rate (New Jersey avg) | 19.4¢/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 | 16 |
| Google imagery from | 2023 |
When Paterson actually produces
Annual totals hide the thing that catches people out: 36% of Paterson's yearly sunlight arrives in May–July, and just 13% across November–January.
| Month | Sun hrs | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 60 | |
| Feb | 81 | |
| Mar | 110 | |
| Apr | 140 | |
| May | 161 | |
| Jun | 170 | |
| Jul | 165 | |
| Aug | 148 | |
| Sep | 120 | |
| Oct | 90 | |
| Nov | 65 | |
| Dec | 54 |
Paterson produces about 3.2× 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 Paterson's latitude, not separately measured, so treat the monthly figures as the shape of a typical year rather than a forecast.
How Paterson compares to the other 788 cities
| Measure | Paterson | Rank of 788 |
|---|---|---|
| Usable sunlight | 1,362 hrs | 589th |
| Sunlight lost to shade | 11% | 56th most |
| Median roof size | 126 m² | 633rd largest |
| Electricity rate | 19.4¢ | 246th highest |
| Payback | 9.1 yrs | 249th fastest |
| Grid carbon | 654 kg/MWh | 312th dirtiest |
What actually stands out about Paterson:
- Shading is a real problem here. Paterson loses 11% of its potential sunlight to trees, chimneys and neighbouring buildings — the 56th-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.
- Roof space is the binding constraint. A typical Paterson roof fits about 36 panels and a typical home needs 24 — so there is little room to oversize. If you add an EV or heat pump later, plan the array for it now.
Cities with almost the same sunlight
These are the closest matches to Paterson's 1,362 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winston-Salem, NC | 1,363 | 13.2¢ | 13.3 yrs |
| Berlin, NH | 1,361 | 25.3¢ | 7 yrs |
| Charleston, WV | 1,364 | 14.3¢ | 12.3 yrs |
| Rochester, NY | 1,365 | 24.3¢ | 7.2 yrs |
Nearby cities
See all of New Jersey → statewide sunlight, rates, incentives and every city we've measured.
Paterson solar questions
How many solar panels do I need in Paterson?
About 24 panels for an average home using 10,800 kWh a year. Paterson roofs get 1,362 usable sun hours, so each 400W panel produces roughly 463 kWh annually. A typical Paterson roof fits about 36 panels, so check your usable roof area before assuming that many will fit.
Is solar worth it in Paterson?
At 19.4¢/kWh and 1,362 sun hours, a typical system pays for itself in about 9.1 years and returns roughly $33,609 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 Paterson?
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 Jersey 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.