Essex County — the North Shore — stretches from the Merrimack Valley to Cape Ann, encompassing communities from Lowell and Lawrence to Gloucester, Salem, and the affluent towns of Hamilton, Ipswich, and Newburyport, where above-average household incomes and strong Eversource electricity rates make solar one of the region's fastest-growing home upgrades.
Essex County — the North Shore — stretches from the Merrimack Valley to Cape Ann, encompassing communities from Lowell and Lawrence to Gloucester, Salem, and the affluent towns of Hamilton, Ipswich, and Newburyport, where above-average household incomes and strong Eversource electricity rates make solar one of the region's fastest-growing home upgrades.
Primary utility: Eversource / National Grid — eligible for MA net metering and SMART program enrollment. Average monthly bills: $135–$170/month. Typical payback: 5–8 years.
HomeRateMap connects Essex County homeowners with licensed MA solar installers. Free quotes, no commitment.
Excess solar production is credited to your Eversource / National Grid account at the retail rate. Your installer handles the interconnection application.
Gross cost: $21,000–$35,000 before incentives. After 30% ITC: $14,700–$24,500. SMART program and net metering reduce effective cost further over 10–25 years.
2 minutes. No commitment. Licensed MA installers only.