Solar panels in Salisbury, MD
Roofs in Salisbury get about 1,559 hours of usable sunlight a year — more than 52% 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 Salisbury → City averages are a starting point; your own roof's size, pitch and shading change the answer a lot.
What a typical Salisbury solar system costs
A 21-panel system (8.4 kW) is about right for an average Salisbury home using 10,800 kWh a year. It would produce roughly 11,131 kWh annually and offset 100% of that usage.
| System | Size | kWh/yr | Net cost | Saves/yr | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 panels | 3.2 kW | 4,240 | $6,384 | $776 | 8.2 yrs |
| 12 panels | 4.8 kW | 6,361 | $9,576 | $1,164 | 8.2 yrs |
| 16 panels | 6.4 kW | 8,481 | $12,768 | $1,552 | 8.2 yrs |
| 20 panels | 8 kW | 10,601 | $15,960 | $1,940 | 8.2 yrs |
| 26 panels | 10.4 kW | 13,782 | $20,748 | $2,113 | 9.8 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 Salisbury gets 1,559 sun hours
That figure comes from Google's analysis of real rooftops across Salisbury — 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 Salisbury reaches about 1,640 hours, roughly 5% better than typical.
The numbers behind this page
| Typical usable sunlight | 1,559 hrs/yr |
|---|---|
| Unshaded roof | 1,640 hrs/yr |
| Electricity rate (Maryland avg) | 18.3¢/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 | 10 |
| Google imagery from | 2012 |
When Salisbury actually produces
Annual totals hide the thing that catches people out: 35% of Salisbury's yearly sunlight arrives in May–July, and just 14% across November–January.
| Month | Sun hrs | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 73 | |
| Feb | 97 | |
| Mar | 127 | |
| Apr | 158 | |
| May | 179 | |
| Jun | 188 | |
| Jul | 183 | |
| Aug | 166 | |
| Sep | 138 | |
| Oct | 105 | |
| Nov | 78 | |
| Dec | 67 |
Salisbury produces about 2.8× 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 Salisbury's latitude, not separately measured, so treat the monthly figures as the shape of a typical year rather than a forecast.
How Salisbury compares to the other 673 cities
| Measure | Salisbury | Rank of 673 |
|---|---|---|
| Usable sunlight | 1,559 hrs | 325th |
| Sunlight lost to shade | 5% | 365th most |
| Median roof size | 219 m² | 294th largest |
| Electricity rate | 18.3¢ | 166th highest |
| Payback | 8.4 yrs | 157th fastest |
| Grid carbon | 654 kg/MWh | 339th dirtiest |
What actually stands out about Salisbury:
- Older imagery. Google's aerial capture of Salisbury dates from 2012. Tree growth and new construction since then are not reflected.
Cities with almost the same sunlight
These are the closest matches to Salisbury's 1,559 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte, NC | 1,561 | 13.2¢ | 11.7 yrs |
| Washington, DC | 1,562 | 17.4¢ | 8.8 yrs |
| Medford, OR | 1,562 | 12.4¢ | 12.4 yrs |
| Helena, MT | 1,556 | 12.1¢ | 12.7 yrs |
Nearby cities
See all of Maryland → statewide sunlight, rates, incentives and every city we've measured.
Salisbury solar questions
How many solar panels do I need in Salisbury?
About 21 panels for an average home using 10,800 kWh a year. Salisbury roofs get 1,559 usable sun hours, so each 400W panel produces roughly 530 kWh annually. A typical Salisbury roof fits about 69 panels, so roof space is unlikely to be your limit.
Is solar worth it in Salisbury?
At 18.3¢/kWh and 1,559 sun hours, a typical system pays for itself in about 8.4 years and returns roughly $33,031 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 Salisbury?
A 8.4 kW system costs about $23,940 before incentives and $16,758 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 Maryland 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.