50-state comparison
Which states are best for heat pump water heaters?
All 51 states ranked by annual savings, payback period, rebate availability, and climate suitability. Top states: California, New York, Rhode Island.
All states ranked
Scores combine annual savings (55%), rebate landscape (20%), climate suitability (15%), and install simplicity (10%). Savings calculated as heat pump (~1,200 kWh/yr) vs electric resistance tank (4,500 kWh/yr) at state electricity rates. Payback based on $2,400 incremental installed cost before rebates. This is RatingPlate's analysis, not a government or manufacturer rating.
| # | Score | State | Savings/yr | Payback | Rate | Rebates | Inlet |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | A | California | $1111 | 2.2 yr | 30.3¢ | 2 programs | 62°F |
| 2 | A | New York | $1040 | 2.3 yr | 28.4¢ | 3 active | 47°F |
| 3 | A | Rhode Island | $1105 | 2.2 yr | 30.1¢ | 2 active | 52°F |
| 4 | A | District of Columbia | $870 | 2.8 yr | 23.7¢ | 2 active | — |
| 5 | A | Hawaii | $1459 | 1.6 yr | 39.8¢ | 1 program | 72°F |
| 6 | A | New Jersey | $848 | 2.8 yr | 23.1¢ | 2 active | 55°F |
| 7 | A | Maine | $1127 | 2.1 yr | 30.7¢ | 2 active | 43°F |
| 8 | A | Vermont | $854 | 2.8 yr | 23.3¢ | 2 active | 45°F |
| 9 | A | Maryland | $756 | 3.2 yr | 20.6¢ | 2 active | 56°F |
| 10 | A | Connecticut | $1038 | 2.3 yr | 28.3¢ | 1 program | 51°F |
| 11 | A | Massachusetts | $1143 | 2.1 yr | 31.2¢ | 1 program | 50°F |
| 12 | B | Arizona | $572 | 4.2 yr | 15.6¢ | 3 active | 62°F |
| 13 | B | Alaska | $936 | 2.6 yr | 25.5¢ | 1 program | 42°F |
| 14 | B | New Hampshire | $965 | 2.5 yr | 26.3¢ | 1 program | 46°F |
| 15 | B | Georgia | $530 | 4.5 yr | 14.5¢ | 2 active | 66°F |
| 16 | B | Michigan | $716 | 3.4 yr | 19.5¢ | 2 active | 47°F |
| 17 | B | Florida | $584 | 4.1 yr | 15.9¢ | 2 programs | 73°F |
| 18 | B | Indiana | $594 | 4.0 yr | 16.2¢ | 2 active | 54°F |
| 19 | B | Wisconsin | $667 | 3.6 yr | 18.2¢ | 2 active | 45°F |
| 20 | B | Pennsylvania | $740 | 3.2 yr | 20.2¢ | 1 program | 51°F |
| 21 | B | Colorado | $603 | 4.0 yr | 16.4¢ | 2 active | 47°F |
| 22 | B | North Carolina | $501 | 4.8 yr | 13.7¢ | 2 active | 61°F |
| 23 | B | Alabama | $589 | 4.1 yr | 16.1¢ | 1 program | 65°F |
| 24 | B | New Mexico | $539 | 4.4 yr | 14.7¢ | 2 active | 55°F |
| 25 | B | Washington | $506 | 4.7 yr | 13.8¢ | 2 active | 50°F |
| 26 | B | Nevada | $512 | 4.7 yr | 14.0¢ | 2 active | 52°F |
| 27 | B | Texas | $575 | 4.2 yr | 15.7¢ | 1 program | 67°F |
| 28 | B | Ohio | $645 | 3.7 yr | 17.6¢ | 1 program | 53°F |
| 29 | B | South Carolina | $565 | 4.2 yr | 15.4¢ | 1 program | 64°F |
| 30 | C | Delaware | $605 | 4.0 yr | 16.5¢ | 1 program | 57°F |
| 31 | C | Illinois | $600 | 4.0 yr | 16.4¢ | 1 program | 54°F |
| 32 | C | Virginia | $582 | 4.1 yr | 15.9¢ | 1 program | 57°F |
| 33 | C | Mississippi | $522 | 4.6 yr | 14.2¢ | None | 65°F |
| 34 | C | Oregon | $537 | 4.5 yr | 14.7¢ | 1 program | 50°F |
| 35 | C | Tennessee | $480 | 5.0 yr | 13.1¢ | 1 program | 60°F |
| 36 | C | Arkansas | $453 | 5.3 yr | 12.3¢ | 1 program | 62°F |
| 37 | C | Kansas | $524 | 4.6 yr | 14.3¢ | 1 program | 56°F |
| 38 | C | Kentucky | $523 | 4.6 yr | 14.3¢ | None | 58°F |
| 39 | C | Oklahoma | $463 | 5.2 yr | 12.6¢ | 1 program | 62°F |
| 40 | C | Louisiana | $457 | 5.2 yr | 12.5¢ | None | 68°F |
| 41 | C | Iowa | $470 | 5.1 yr | 12.8¢ | 1 program | 50°F |
| 42 | C | Utah | $472 | 5.1 yr | 12.9¢ | 1 program | 51°F |
| 43 | C | West Virginia | $541 | 4.4 yr | 14.8¢ | None | 54°F |
| 44 | C | Minnesota | $549 | 4.4 yr | 15.0¢ | 1 program | 43°F |
| 45 | C | Missouri | $432 | 5.5 yr | 11.8¢ | 1 program | 57°F |
| 46 | C | Nebraska | $431 | 5.6 yr | 11.8¢ | 1 program | 51°F |
| 47 | C | Montana | $471 | 5.1 yr | 12.9¢ | 1 program | 45°F |
| 48 | D | Idaho | $442 | 5.4 yr | 12.1¢ | 1 program | 47°F |
| 49 | D | South Dakota | $498 | 4.8 yr | 13.6¢ | None | 47°F |
| 50 | D | Wyoming | $471 | 5.1 yr | 12.8¢ | None | 44°F |
| 51 | D | North Dakota | $400 | 6.0 yr | 10.9¢ | None | 42°F |
Methodology. Performance data from ENERGY STAR. Energy prices from EIA (Dec 2025). Rebate status verified Feb-Mar 2026. Inlet water temperatures from NREL Burch-Christensen model.