Solar panels in Saint Johnsbury, VT
Roofs in Saint Johnsbury get about 1,386 hours of usable sunlight a year — less than 84% 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 Saint Johnsbury → City averages are a starting point; your own roof's size, pitch and shading change the answer a lot.
What a typical Saint Johnsbury solar system costs
A 23-panel system (9.2 kW) is about right for an average Saint Johnsbury home using 10,800 kWh a year. It would produce roughly 10,839 kWh annually and offset 100% of that usage.
| System | Size | kWh/yr | Net cost | Saves/yr | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 panels | 3.2 kW | 3,770 | $6,384 | $833 | 7.7 yrs |
| 12 panels | 4.8 kW | 5,655 | $9,576 | $1,250 | 7.7 yrs |
| 16 panels | 6.4 kW | 7,540 | $12,768 | $1,666 | 7.7 yrs |
| 20 panels | 8 kW | 9,425 | $15,960 | $2,083 | 7.7 yrs |
| 26 panels | 10.4 kW | 12,252 | $20,748 | $2,467 | 8.4 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 Saint Johnsbury gets 1,386 sun hours
That figure comes from Google's analysis of real rooftops across Saint Johnsbury — 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 Saint Johnsbury reaches about 1,516 hours, roughly 9% better than typical.
The numbers behind this page
| Typical usable sunlight | 1,386 hrs/yr |
|---|---|
| Unshaded roof | 1,516 hrs/yr |
| Electricity rate (Vermont avg) | 22.1¢/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 | 35% |
| Paid for exported power | full retail (net metering) |
| Rooftops sampled here | 9 |
| Google imagery from | 2022 |
When Saint Johnsbury actually produces
Annual totals hide the thing that catches people out: 38% of Saint Johnsbury's yearly sunlight arrives in May–July, and just 12% across November–January.
| Month | Sun hrs | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 54 | |
| Feb | 78 | |
| Mar | 110 | |
| Apr | 145 | |
| May | 170 | |
| Jun | 181 | |
| Jul | 176 | |
| Aug | 155 | |
| Sep | 122 | |
| Oct | 87 | |
| Nov | 60 | |
| Dec | 48 |
Saint Johnsbury produces about 3.8× 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 Saint Johnsbury's latitude, not separately measured, so treat the monthly figures as the shape of a typical year rather than a forecast.
Cities with almost the same sunlight
These are the closest matches to Saint Johnsbury's 1,386 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bridgeport, CT | 1,386 | 29.2¢ | 5.8 yrs |
| Portland, ME | 1,386 | 24.8¢ | 6.8 yrs |
| Eugene, OR | 1,386 | 12.4¢ | 13.7 yrs |
| Farmington Hills, MI | 1,386 | 19.1¢ | 8.9 yrs |
Nearby cities
See all of Vermont → statewide sunlight, rates, incentives and every city we've measured.
Saint Johnsbury solar questions
How many solar panels do I need in Saint Johnsbury?
About 23 panels for an average home using 10,800 kWh a year. Saint Johnsbury roofs get 1,386 usable sun hours, so each 400W panel produces roughly 471 kWh annually. A typical Saint Johnsbury roof fits about 55 panels, so roof space is unlikely to be your limit.
Is solar worth it in Saint Johnsbury?
At 22.1¢/kWh and 1,386 sun hours, a typical system pays for itself in about 7.7 years and returns roughly $41,369 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 Saint Johnsbury?
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 Vermont 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.