Plan local project costs by ZIP.

Estimate high-intent US local service searches with source-backed inputs, transparent formulas, and programmatic page targets.

Calculator

Estimate system size, installed cost, bill savings, and simple payback from EIA rates and PVWatts output.

MarketZIP code

Home size2,200 sq ft

Monthly power bill$240

Solar panel ROI range

Denver, CO · 80202

Source-backed MVP range

Typical estimate$30,100

$25,275 - $37,325 per project

Estimated payback10.7-12.5 years

Cost drivers

Denver, CO data snapshot; ZIP sample used: 80202
Local cost index from Census housing/income: 1.28x
$240 monthly utility bill
EIA residential electricity price: 16.54 cents/kWh
PVWatts annual production: 1,626 kWh per kW
10.7 kW system sized to current bill

Assumptions

annual kWh = monthly bill / EIA residential rate x 12; system kW = annual kWh / PVWatts kWh per kW; cost = kW x DOE benchmark $/Wdc x local install factor; payback = net cost / annual bill savings.
Local cost index is derived from public housing, rent, and household-income data; it is a cost-pressure proxy, not a contractor bid database.
Does not include permit surprises, structural defects, financing points, rebates, taxes beyond listed assumptions, or bid availability.
Estimated monthly savings: $235
Federal residential clean energy credit: 0% for 2026 new personal-use systems in this MVP.

Formula

annual kWh = monthly bill / EIA residential rate x 12; system kW = annual kWh / PVWatts kWh per kW; cost = kW x DOE benchmark $/Wdc x local install factor; payback = net cost / annual bill savings.

Data sources

Census Reporter ACS profile - DenverCensus Reporter / U.S. Census ACS · retrieved 2026-07-01
EIA Electric Power MonthlyU.S. Energy Information Administration · retrieved 2026-06-30
PVWatts v8 annual production snapshotNational Laboratory of the Rockies / NREL API · retrieved 2026-06-30
DOE Solar Photovoltaic System Cost BenchmarksU.S. Department of Energy · retrieved 2026-06-30
IRS Residential Clean Energy CreditInternal Revenue Service · retrieved 2026-06-30

This is an educational planning estimate, not a contractor quote, loan quote, appraisal, tax advice, or guarantee. Get local bids before making a purchase decision.

Markets

Open market-specific calculator pages for 6 US markets and 5 service models.

Austin, TX

Fast-growth Sun Belt market with above-national housing values and strong remodeling demand.

1.23x

ZIP samples: 78701, 78704, 78745
Median home: $555,300
Electricity: 16.99c/kWh

Open Solar panel ROI

Roof replacement HVAC repair Solar panel ROI Moving cost Rent vs buy

Phoenix, AZ

High cooling load and strong sun exposure make HVAC and solar estimates especially sensitive.

1.09x

ZIP samples: 85001, 85016, 85032
Median home: $420,700
Electricity: 15.48c/kWh

Open Solar panel ROI

Roof replacement HVAC repair Solar panel ROI Moving cost Rent vs buy

San Diego, CA

High home values and high electricity prices materially change project economics.

1.53x

ZIP samples: 92101, 92109, 92130
Median home: $906,700
Electricity: 35.25c/kWh

Open Solar panel ROI

Roof replacement HVAC repair Solar panel ROI Moving cost Rent vs buy

Miami, FL

Dense moving demand, storm exposure, and cooling load shape local service estimates.

1.05x

ZIP samples: 33101, 33131, 33186
Median home: $518,100
Electricity: 15.38c/kWh

Open Solar panel ROI

Roof replacement HVAC repair Solar panel ROI Moving cost Rent vs buy

Denver, CO

High inbound mobility and mixed climate create useful demand for transparent service estimates.

1.28x

ZIP samples: 80202, 80211, 80220
Median home: $616,000
Electricity: 16.54c/kWh

Open Solar panel ROI

Roof replacement HVAC repair Solar panel ROI Moving cost Rent vs buy

Seattle, WA

High labor and housing costs make local-price transparency more valuable.

1.55x

ZIP samples: 98101, 98103, 98115
Median home: $938,600
Electricity: 14.36c/kWh

Open Solar panel ROI

Roof replacement HVAC repair Solar panel ROI Moving cost Rent vs buy

Model and ad-demand context

Cost ranges are computed from public snapshots: Census city housing and income data, EIA residential electricity prices, PVWatts production, BLS wage baselines, IRS mileage, and Freddie Mac mortgage rates. WordStream/LocaliQ 2026 search benchmarks remain advertiser-demand context only, not revenue projection.

Data cachePartial refresh

Refreshed Jul 1, 2026

6 of 6 markets fully refreshed

9 of 9 source groups refreshed

Accuracy notes

Partial refresh; 9 of 9 live source groups refreshed; 1 warning.

eiaEIA_API_KEY was not provided; used the official EIA monthly HTML table fallback.

Source: LocaliQ 2026 Search Advertising Benchmarks