Where heat pumps pay off in California
In a typical California house heated with electric baseboard heat, a heat pump saves the most near Truckee ($8,685 a year) and the least near Cathedral City ($650). Typical savings $2,750 a year on a $3,600 heating bill. Pays for itself within 10 years in 100% of its ZIP codes with a hired installer, 100% if you install it yourself.
Same typical house everywhere: 1,800 sq ft, built 1970 to 1989, heating costs only, 125 places in California. How
Installed by
A contractorYou (DIY)
Yearly savings on heating (hired installer)
Costs more
Under $100
$100-300
$300-600
$600-1,000
$1,000-2,000
$2,000-4,000
$4,000+
California at a glance
Gas heat
$210 a year
Pays for itself within 10 years in 2% of its ZIP codes with a hired installer, 67% if you install it yourself. Typical heating bill today $1,100.
Oil heat
$1,300 a year
Pays for itself within 10 years in 100% of its ZIP codes with a hired installer, 100% if you install it yourself. Typical heating bill today $2,150.
Propane heat
$450 a year
Pays for itself within 10 years in 59% of its ZIP codes with a hired installer, 99% if you install it yourself. Typical heating bill today $1,300.
Electric baseboard heat
$2,750 a year
Pays for itself within 10 years in 100% of its ZIP codes with a hired installer, 100% if you install it yourself. Typical heating bill today $3,600.
Model your own house
These open the home model at the place with the typical house filled in and electric baseboard heat as today's heat. Change anything to match yours.
Every place in California, electric baseboard heat heat
| Place | Heating today | Saves a year | Pays back (contractor) | Pays back (DIY) | Heat from the heat pump |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Truckee | $11,324 | $8,685 | 1.3 years | 0.8 years | 100% |
| South Lake Tahoe | $11,116 | $8,571 | 1.4 years | 0.8 years | 100% |
| Mammoth Lakes | $11,054 | $8,204 | 1.4 years | 0.8 years | 99% |
| Denio 52 WSW | $10,375 | $8,153 | 1.4 years | 0.8 years | 100% |
| Alturas | $9,874 | $7,699 | 1.5 years | 0.9 years | 100% |
| Sugarloaf | $9,799 | $7,659 | 1.5 years | 0.9 years | 100% |
| Montague | $8,220 | $6,509 | 1.8 years | 0.5 years | 100% |
| Mount Shasta | $8,316 | $5,952 | 0.7 years | 0.8 years | 99% |
| Fortuna | $7,517 | $5,923 | 1.0 years | 0.6 years | 100% |
| Eureka | $7,338 | $5,808 | 1.0 years | 0.6 years | 100% |
| Mckinleyville | $7,325 | $5,790 | 1.0 years | 0.6 years | 100% |
| Trinity Center | $7,210 | $5,261 | 0.8 years | 0.9 years | 100% |
| Crescent City | $6,807 | $5,257 | 0.7 years | 0.6 years | 100% |
| El Portal | $7,260 | $5,218 | 0.8 years | 0.6 years | 99% |
| Weaverville | $7,096 | $5,184 | 0.8 years | 0.5 years | 100% |
| Petaluma | $6,513 | $4,930 | 0.8 years | 0.7 years | 100% |
| Emigrant Gap | $6,745 | $4,917 | 0.8 years | 0.5 years | 99% |
| Tehachapi | $6,111 | $4,498 | 0.9 years | 0.5 years | 100% |
| Bishop | $6,208 | $4,390 | 1.1 years | 0.7 years | 100% |
| Windsor | $5,524 | $4,185 | 1.0 years | 0.8 years | 100% |
| El Granada | $5,168 | $4,016 | 1.0 years | 0.4 years | 100% |
| Lebec | $5,165 | $3,866 | 1.1 years | 0.6 years | 100% |
| Paso Robles | $5,119 | $3,845 | 1.1 years | 0.6 years | 100% |
| Talmage | $5,049 | $3,798 | 1.1 years | 0.6 years | 100% |
| Napa | $5,000 | $3,786 | 1.0 years | 0.9 years | 100% |
| Lincoln | $4,731 | $3,558 | 1.2 years | 0.7 years | 100% |
| Novato | $4,639 | $3,550 | 1.1 years | 0.5 years | 100% |
| Hollister | $4,710 | $3,539 | 1.1 years | 0.5 years | 99% |
| Solvang | $4,590 | $3,474 | 1.1 years | 0.5 years | 99% |
| Monterey | $4,468 | $3,469 | 1.1 years | 0.5 years | 100% |
| Pleasanton | $4,538 | $3,409 | 1.1 years | 0.5 years | 99% |
| Lompoc (Lompoc Airport) | $4,437 | $3,389 | 1.2 years | 0.5 years | 100% |
| San Martin | $4,473 | $3,379 | 1.2 years | 0.5 years | 99% |
| Travis AFB | $4,370 | $3,310 | 1.3 years | 0.5 years | 100% |
| Shasta | $4,324 | $3,288 | 1.3 years | 0.7 years | 100% |
| Lompoc (Vandenberg AFB) | $4,192 | $3,256 | 1.2 years | 0.5 years | 100% |
| Davis | $4,333 | $3,255 | 1.2 years | 0.5 years | 100% |
| Alameda | $4,201 | $3,237 | 1.2 years | 0.5 years | 100% |
| Salinas | $4,181 | $3,230 | 1.2 years | 0.5 years | 100% |
| Santa Maria | $4,156 | $3,203 | 1.2 years | 0.6 years | 100% |
| Auburn | $4,238 | $3,197 | 1.3 years | 0.8 years | 100% |
| Madera | $4,186 | $3,173 | 1.3 years | 0.8 years | 100% |
| San Francisco | $4,043 | $3,158 | 1.2 years | 0.6 years | 100% |
| Rancho Cordova | $4,181 | $3,149 | 1.2 years | 0.6 years | 100% |
| Lancaster | $4,267 | $3,139 | 1.3 years | 0.8 years | 100% |
| Sacramento (Sacramento Airport ASOS) | $4,148 | $3,124 | 1.2 years | 0.6 years | 100% |
| Sacramento (Sacramento Metro Airport) | $4,114 | $3,118 | 1.4 years | 0.6 years | 100% |
| Cedar Ridge | $4,113 | $3,108 | 1.4 years | 0.8 years | 100% |
| Stockton | $4,096 | $3,106 | 1.4 years | 0.6 years | 100% |
| Palo Alto | $4,037 | $3,092 | 1.3 years | 0.6 years | 100% |
| Ramona | $4,084 | $3,077 | 1.4 years | 0.8 years | 100% |
| Elmira | $4,050 | $3,060 | 1.4 years | 0.6 years | 100% |
| Concord | $4,038 | $3,058 | 1.3 years | 0.6 years | 100% |
| Lemoore | $4,043 | $3,050 | 1.4 years | 0.8 years | 100% |
| Palmdale | $4,082 | $3,044 | 1.4 years | 0.8 years | 100% |
| Edwards | $4,068 | $3,019 | 1.4 years | 0.8 years | 100% |
| San Lorenzo | $3,892 | $3,008 | 1.3 years | 0.6 years | 100% |
| Merced | $3,956 | $2,997 | 1.4 years | 0.6 years | 100% |
| Redding | $3,979 | $2,990 | 1.4 years | 0.8 years | 100% |
| Proberta | $3,948 | $2,986 | 1.4 years | 0.6 years | 100% |
| San Luis Obispo | $3,857 | $2,974 | 1.3 years | 0.6 years | 100% |
| Victorville | $3,938 | $2,941 | 1.4 years | 0.8 years | 100% |
| Placerville | $3,862 | $2,935 | 1.4 years | 0.6 years | 100% |
| Hanford | $3,850 | $2,916 | 1.4 years | 0.6 years | 100% |
| Chico | $3,821 | $2,889 | 1.4 years | 0.6 years | 100% |
| Mcclellan | $3,813 | $2,875 | 1.4 years | 0.6 years | 100% |
| Redwood City | $3,708 | $2,874 | 1.4 years | 0.6 years | 100% |
| Ridgecrest | $3,837 | $2,841 | 1.5 years | 0.8 years | 100% |
| Palermo | $3,745 | $2,838 | 1.5 years | 0.6 years | 100% |
| Mountain View | $3,665 | $2,821 | 1.4 years | 0.6 years | 100% |
| Beale AFB | $3,749 | $2,817 | 1.4 years | 0.6 years | 100% |
| Porterville | $3,706 | $2,815 | 1.5 years | 0.6 years | 100% |
| Santa Clara | $3,555 | $2,733 | 1.4 years | 0.6 years | 100% |
| Visalia | $3,588 | $2,731 | 1.5 years | 0.6 years | 100% |
| Modesto | $3,618 | $2,715 | 1.4 years | 0.6 years | 100% |
| San Jose | $3,504 | $2,690 | 1.4 years | 0.6 years | 100% |
| Point Mugu Nawc | $3,313 | $2,634 | 1.4 years | 0.7 years | 100% |
| Santa Barbara (Santa Barbara 11 W) | $3,134 | $2,420 | 1.6 years | 0.7 years | 100% |
| Fresno (Fresno Chandler Dwtn Airport) | $3,177 | $2,400 | 1.6 years | 0.7 years | 100% |
| Oceanside | $3,195 | $2,396 | 1.6 years | 0.7 years | 99% |
| Fresno (Fresno Yosemite Intl) | $3,116 | $2,353 | 1.7 years | 0.7 years | 100% |
| Bakersfield | $3,048 | $2,296 | 1.7 years | 0.8 years | 100% |
| Santa Barbara (Santa Barbara Municipal Airport) | $2,974 | $2,294 | 1.7 years | 0.8 years | 100% |
| Fort Irwin | $3,006 | $2,264 | 1.9 years | 0.8 years | 100% |
| March Air Reserve Base | $2,886 | $2,194 | 1.8 years | 0.8 years | 100% |
| Oxnard (Pt Mugu Nf) | $2,752 | $2,131 | 1.8 years | 0.8 years | 99% |
| Daggett | $2,784 | $2,112 | 2.0 years | 0.8 years | 100% |
| Avalon | $2,673 | $2,106 | 1.8 years | 0.9 years | 100% |
| Corona | $2,729 | $2,079 | 1.9 years | 0.8 years | 100% |
| San Luis Rey | $2,676 | $2,046 | 1.9 years | 0.9 years | 100% |
| Camarillo | $2,549 | $1,965 | 1.9 years | 0.9 years | 99% |
| Chino | $2,518 | $1,941 | 2.0 years | 0.9 years | 100% |
| San Diego (San Diego Miramar NAS) | $2,508 | $1,940 | 2.0 years | 0.9 years | 100% |
| Oxnard (Oxnard Ventura Co Airport) | $2,440 | $1,930 | 2.0 years | 1.0 years | 100% |
| San Bernardino | $2,385 | $1,835 | 2.1 years | 1.0 years | 100% |
| Temecula | $2,321 | $1,824 | 2.1 years | 1.0 years | 100% |
| Santee | $2,322 | $1,784 | 2.2 years | 1.0 years | 100% |
| San Diego (San Diego Brown Field) | $2,263 | $1,760 | 2.2 years | 1.0 years | 99% |
| Twentynine Palms | $2,299 | $1,752 | 2.2 years | 1.0 years | 100% |
| Imperial Beach | $2,119 | $1,650 | 2.3 years | 1.1 years | 100% |
| San Dimas | $2,118 | $1,630 | 2.3 years | 1.1 years | 99% |
| Riverside | $2,055 | $1,590 | 2.4 years | 1.1 years | 99% |
| Van Nuys | $1,994 | $1,548 | 2.4 years | 1.1 years | 99% |
| Sun Valley | $1,985 | $1,541 | 2.4 years | 1.1 years | 99% |
| Guasti | $1,855 | $1,451 | 2.6 years | 0.8 years | 100% |
| Los Alamitos | $1,912 | $1,398 | 2.2 years | 1.2 years | 99% |
| Torrance | $1,853 | $1,390 | 2.2 years | 0.8 years | 100% |
| San Diego (San Diego Montgomery Field) | $1,854 | $1,390 | 2.2 years | 0.8 years | 100% |
| Los Angeles | $1,823 | $1,378 | 2.2 years | 0.8 years | 100% |
| Carlsbad | $1,801 | $1,362 | 2.2 years | 0.8 years | 100% |
| Buena Park | $1,721 | $1,277 | 2.4 years | 0.8 years | 99% |
| Long Beach | $1,672 | $1,258 | 2.4 years | 0.8 years | 100% |
| Inglewood (Los Angeles Intl Airport) | $1,577 | $1,204 | 2.5 years | 0.9 years | 100% |
| Coronado | $1,572 | $1,193 | 2.6 years | 0.9 years | 100% |
| El Monte | $1,576 | $1,183 | 2.6 years | 0.9 years | 100% |
| Pacoima | $1,538 | $1,165 | 2.6 years | 0.9 years | 100% |
| San Diego (San Diego Intl Airport) | $1,513 | $1,135 | 2.7 years | 0.9 years | 100% |
| Aliso Viejo | $1,459 | $1,107 | 2.8 years | 1.0 years | 100% |
| Inglewood (Hawthorne Municipal Airport) | $1,440 | $1,095 | 2.8 years | 1.0 years | 100% |
| Blythe | $1,431 | $1,035 | 3.0 years | 1.6 years | 99% |
| Seeley | $1,335 | $957 | 3.2 years | 1.7 years | 98% |
| Needles | $1,290 | $938 | 3.2 years | 1.1 years | 99% |
| Death Valley | $1,223 | $898 | 3.4 years | 1.2 years | 100% |
| El Centro | $1,232 | $889 | 3.4 years | 1.2 years | 99% |
| Cathedral City | $869 | $650 | 4.7 years | 1.6 years | 100% |
Contractor installed unless marked DIY. Place names are the nearest ZIP code city to each weather station. Download all places.
Neighboring states
How these numbers are made
Every place on the map is the area closest to one of 1,983 weather stations. For each one we ran the HeatPushers home model (the same code you can use for your own house) with the past year of hourly weather at that station (2025-10-28 to 2026-10-28) and the state's average electricity and fuel prices from the EIA (the US average where the EIA has no figure for the state).
- The house: 1,800 sq ft, 2 stories, built 1970 to 1989 (wall insulation R-14, attic R-16), 3 bedrooms, thermostat at 70°F. The heat pump heats the whole house.
- Heat today: gas furnace (80% efficient); oil boiler (85% efficient); propane furnace (92% efficient); electric baseboard (100% efficient). Furnace houses have ducts inside the heated space; boiler and baseboard houses have no ducts, so only ductless heat pumps count there.
- The heat pump: out of 772 models sold online, the one with the lowest 10-year cost (price, installation and energy), in the number of units that costs least. The old heat stays and takes over in the hours it is cheaper to run.
- Installation: a contractor at $2,500 per indoor unit, or yourself: $350 of tools once and $300 of materials per indoor unit.
- Payback: what it costs up front divided by what it saves a year. Under 10 years means it pays for itself within the lifetime we assume.
- Heating only. Cooling is left out. A heat pump also cools: against old central AC that saves a bit more; in a house without AC, using it in summer costs extra.
- Not included: rebates and tax credits, electrical upgrades, new ductwork, heat-pump electricity rates and financing.
- Shares of ZIP codes: each place counts by how many US ZIP codes are closest to its station, so cities count more than empty desert.
Your house is not this house. Size, insulation, prices and what you already own change the answer, often a lot. Use "Model your own house here" on the map, or start at the home model. More: full method and how we know.