Solar panels in Tupelo, MS
Roofs in Tupelo get about 1,504 hours of usable sunlight a year — less than 58% 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 Tupelo → City averages are a starting point; your own roof's size, pitch and shading change the answer a lot.
What a typical Tupelo solar system costs
A 22-panel system (8.8 kW) is about right for an average Tupelo home using 10,800 kWh a year. It would produce roughly 11,250 kWh annually and offset 100% of that usage.
| System | Size | kWh/yr | Net cost | Saves/yr | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 panels | 3.2 kW | 4,091 | $6,384 | $544 | 11.7 yrs |
| 12 panels | 4.8 kW | 6,136 | $9,576 | $816 | 11.7 yrs |
| 16 panels | 6.4 kW | 8,182 | $12,768 | $1,088 | 11.7 yrs |
| 20 panels | 8 kW | 10,227 | $15,960 | $1,360 | 11.7 yrs |
| 26 panels | 10.4 kW | 13,295 | $20,748 | $1,519 | 13.7 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 Tupelo gets 1,504 sun hours
That figure comes from Google's analysis of real rooftops across Tupelo — 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 Tupelo reaches about 1,719 hours, roughly 14% better than typical.
The numbers behind this page
| Typical usable sunlight | 1,504 hrs/yr |
|---|---|
| Unshaded roof | 1,719 hrs/yr |
| Electricity rate (Mississippi avg) | 13.3¢/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 | 2024 |
When Tupelo actually produces
Annual totals hide the thing that catches people out: 34% of Tupelo's yearly sunlight arrives in May–July, and just 15% across November–January.
| Month | Sun hrs | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 78 | |
| Feb | 98 | |
| Mar | 124 | |
| Apr | 149 | |
| May | 166 | |
| Jun | 172 | |
| Jul | 169 | |
| Aug | 155 | |
| Sep | 133 | |
| Oct | 106 | |
| Nov | 82 | |
| Dec | 72 |
Output is unusually steady — only about 2.4× between Jun and Dec. Tupelo is close enough to the equator that seasonal variation is mild, which makes sizing a system considerably more predictable.
The annual total is measured from Google's rooftop imagery. Its split across months is calculated from solar geometry at Tupelo's latitude, not separately measured, so treat the monthly figures as the shape of a typical year rather than a forecast.
How Tupelo compares to the other 673 cities
| Measure | Tupelo | Rank of 673 |
|---|---|---|
| Usable sunlight | 1,504 hrs | 393rd |
| Sunlight lost to shade | 13% | 27th most |
| Median roof size | 286 m² | 142nd largest |
| Electricity rate | 13.3¢ | 496th highest |
| Payback | 12.1 yrs | 498th fastest |
| Grid carbon | 802 kg/MWh | 150th dirtiest |
What actually stands out about Tupelo:
- Shading is a real problem here. Tupelo loses 13% of its potential sunlight to trees, chimneys and neighbouring buildings — the 27th-worst of the 673 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 Mississippi. Tupelo roofs get 6% less usable sunlight than the typical Mississippi city we've measured — statewide averages will overstate what you can expect here.
Cities with almost the same sunlight
These are the closest matches to Tupelo's 1,504 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fargo, ND | 1,504 | 11.1¢ | 14.5 yrs |
| Hempstead, NY | 1,504 | 24.3¢ | 6.6 yrs |
| Columbia, MD | 1,505 | 18.3¢ | 8.8 yrs |
| Durham, NC | 1,505 | 13.2¢ | 12.2 yrs |
Nearby cities
See all of Mississippi → statewide sunlight, rates, incentives and every city we've measured.
Tupelo solar questions
How many solar panels do I need in Tupelo?
About 22 panels for an average home using 10,800 kWh a year. Tupelo roofs get 1,504 usable sun hours, so each 400W panel produces roughly 511 kWh annually. A typical Tupelo roof fits about 55 panels, so roof space is unlikely to be your limit.
Is solar worth it in Tupelo?
At 13.3¢/kWh and 1,504 sun hours, a typical system pays for itself in about 12.1 years and returns roughly $18,728 over a 25-year panel life. That is slower than average, so compare several quotes before committing. Exported power earns full retail credit here.
How much do solar panels cost in Tupelo?
A 8.8 kW system costs about $25,080 before incentives and $17,556 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 Mississippi 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.