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Get a Free QuoteZillow research shows solar adds 4.1% to home values. On New Hampshire's ~$420,000 median home, that is $17,220 in added value. Plus RSA 72:62 property tax exemption, no sales tax, and NEM 2.0 that transfers to the next buyer.
4.1%
Zillow Solar Premium
$17,220
NH Median Value Add
~$584/yr
Property Tax Savings
$0
NH Sales Tax on Solar
Here is the full picture — combining the Zillow premium, property tax exemption, savings from no sales tax, and net metering returns.
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| NH Median Home Price (2026) | ~$420,000 | NH Assn of Realtors |
| Zillow Solar Premium | 4.1% | Zillow Research 2023 |
| Dollar Premium (median NH home) | ~$17,220 | Calculated |
| Typical Solar System Cost (8 kW) | $24,000 | NuWatt pricing 2026 |
| NH Sales Tax on Solar | $0 (no state sales tax) | NH DRA |
| Property Tax Savings/yr (RSA 72:62) | ~$584/yr (if town adopted) | NH OEP |
| NEM 2.0 Annual Savings (8 kW) | ~$2,040/yr | At $0.27/kWh, 85% NEM |
| Simple Payback (no tax credit) | ~9.5 years | NuWatt estimate |
Zillow's research analyzed home sales data from 2018-2023 across major US markets and found that homes with solar panels sold for an average of 4.1% more than comparable non-solar homes. This research controlled for home size, age, neighborhood, and other factors — isolating the solar premium.
For New Hampshire specifically, the premium is driven by several factors. First, NH has high electricity rates — Eversource NH averages $0.25/kWh and rising, with summer peak rates exceeding $0.30/kWh. Solar's value to buyers increases proportionally with the rates they will avoid paying. Second, NH attracts energy-conscious buyers, particularly in the Seacoast, Upper Valley (Dartmouth area), and Lakes Region. Third, NH homes are older on average — solar modernizes a property and signals lower operating costs.
The premium applies specifically to owned solar — systems purchased with cash or a loan where the buyer receives full NEM 2.0 benefits. Leased solar does not generate the same premium and can actually complicate the sale.
Owned solar panels add approximately 4.1% to NH home sale prices (Zillow). On the NH median home of ~$420,000, that is $17,220 in premium value. The property tax exemption under RSA 72:62 (adopted by ~66% of NH towns) prevents the solar installation from raising your tax bill. NH has no state sales tax, saving $2,000-2,400 on installation. NEM 2.0 net metering transfers automatically to the next buyer with the utility account.
New Hampshire law allows — but does not require — municipalities to exempt solar energy systems from property tax assessment. Approximately 66% of NH towns (~200 of 300+ municipalities) have adopted this exemption through a town meeting vote.
How to Check Your Town's RSA 72:62 Status
Call your town assessor's office directly — ask "Has the town adopted the solar energy system property tax exemption under RSA 72:62?" The NH Department of Revenue Administration (DRA) also maintains a list of towns that have adopted local option exemptions. Verify before including property tax savings in your ROI calculation.
When selling your NH home, the difference between owned and leased solar is significant — especially in a competitive market.
| Factor | Owned Solar | Leased / PPA |
|---|---|---|
| Home sale impact | Adds value — buyers prefer owned solar | Can complicate or delay sale — buyer must assume lease |
| NEM 2.0 transfer | Automatic with address transfer | Leasing company must approve new owner |
| Property tax | Exempt under RSA 72:62 (if adopted) | Leasing company typically claims exemption — not you |
| 25-year savings | $55,000-80,000+ (fully accrue to owner) | $20,000-40,000 (after lease payments) |
| Lease buyout to sell | N/A | $10,000-25,000 if buyer won't assume |
| Appraiser treatment | Counted as home improvement (adds value) | Excludes leased equipment from home value |
| Maintenance responsibility | You (or warranty coverage) | Leasing company |
New Hampshire NEM 2.0 net metering is enrolled at the meter — it is address-based, not homeowner-based. When a new owner establishes utility service at the home, the interconnection agreement and net metering enrollment automatically carries to the new account.
This is actually a selling point: NEM 2.0 rates are locked through January 1, 2041 by NH PUC Docket DE 16-576. The new buyer does not have to worry about future policy changes reducing their solar credits — the rate they get is guaranteed for the life of the current interconnection, which may extend well past 2041 if the system is not significantly modified.
One practical note: accrued NEM credits in the account at time of sale. If you have accumulated several hundred dollars in net metering credits, discuss with your real estate agent whether to credit the buyer, or simply note in the listing that the system has produced excess credits. NH utilities will eventually cash out any accumulated balance above $100 — but the timing may not align with closing.
The 4.1% Zillow average varies by region. Higher electricity rates and energy-conscious buyer markets create larger premiums.
High electricity rates + affluent market = strongest premium
High buyer demand, energy-conscious buyers
Seasonal homes may value solar less; year-round high
College/professional market values energy efficiency
Rural market; smaller buyer pool; fewer solar comps
Progressive market; solar adoption growing
Yes. Zillow research found that homes with solar panels sell for an average of 4.1% more than comparable homes without solar. In New Hampshire, where the median home price is approximately $420,000 (2026), that translates to a $17,220 premium on average. The premium is strongest in markets where buyers value lower energy bills — particularly in the Seacoast and southern NH communities where Eversource rates exceed $0.25/kWh.
Yes — if your town has adopted RSA 72:62. Approximately 66% of NH towns (around 200 of 300+ municipalities) have adopted the local option property tax exemption for solar energy systems. When adopted, the assessed value added by the solar system is exempt from property taxation. The typical savings are approximately $584 per year for an 8 kW system. The exemption must be applied for with your town assessor after installation — it is not automatic. Approximately 34% of NH towns have not adopted RSA 72:62, meaning solar WILL increase your property tax assessment in those communities.
In NH towns that have NOT adopted RSA 72:62, yes — solar installations are typically added to the assessed value of your property, which increases your property tax. The amount varies by town assessor methodology. In towns that HAVE adopted RSA 72:62, the added value from solar is excluded from assessment — effectively providing a zero-property-tax outcome on the installation. This is a critical distinction when calculating your payback period.
For owned solar (purchased with cash or a loan), the transfer is straightforward: solar is a fixture of the home and transfers with the property. NEM 2.0 net metering automatically transfers with the utility account when the new owner establishes service. Owned solar typically adds value and makes the home more attractive. For leased solar or a PPA, the new buyer must either assume the lease agreement (going through a credit check and approval process with the leasing company) or the seller must buy out the lease — which can cost $10,000-25,000. Leased solar can complicate and sometimes derail NH home sales.
No. New Hampshire has no state sales tax on anything, including solar panels, inverters, racking, batteries, or installation labor. This is an automatic benefit — no paperwork, no application. On a typical $24,000 NH solar installation, this saves approximately $2,000-2,400 compared to what you would pay in Massachusetts (6.25% sales tax with solar exemption gone) or Maine (5.5% sales tax). No sales tax is one of NH's most concrete solar financial advantages.
When the new owner establishes utility service at the home, the net metering interconnection carries with the meter — it is address-based, not owner-based. The new owner automatically inherits NEM 2.0 credits. Any accumulated credits in the account at the time of sale can be addressed in the purchase and sale agreement — some sellers credit buyers, others simply let accumulated credits lapse. The critical point: NEM 2.0 rates are locked through 2041, so the new owner inherits a 15+ year guaranteed credit rate.
NH Solar Tax Benefits
RSA 72:62 details and how to apply
NH Net Metering Guide
NEM 2.0 — what transfers with your home
Cash vs Loan vs Lease Solar
Owned vs leased — full financial comparison
Solar HOA & Zoning Guide
HOA restrictions on solar in NH
NH Solar Cost 2026
City-by-city pricing to calculate your ROI
Solar Without Tax Credit NH
Is NH solar worth it without the ITC?
Get an honest solar quote with accurate 2026 NH pricing, NEM 2.0 savings projections, and RSA 72:62 property tax verification for your specific town. No phantom federal tax credits.