Where heat pumps pay off in California
In a typical California house heated with propane, a heat pump saves the most near Denio 52 WSW ($1,609 a year) and the least near Cathedral City ($103). Typical savings $450 a year on a $1,300 heating bill. Pays for itself within 10 years in 59% of its ZIP codes with a hired installer, 99% 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 propane as today's heat. Change anything to match yours.
Every place in California, propane heat
| Place | Heating today | Saves a year | Pays back (contractor) | Pays back (DIY) | Heat from the heat pump |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denio 52 WSW | $3,827 | $1,609 | 7.2 years | 4.5 years | 98% |
| South Lake Tahoe | $4,100 | $1,577 | 7.4 years | 4.6 years | 96% |
| Truckee | $4,177 | $1,566 | 7.4 years | 4.7 years | 95% |
| Sugarloaf | $3,614 | $1,477 | 7.9 years | 4.9 years | 99% |
| Alturas | $3,642 | $1,473 | 7.9 years | 5.0 years | 98% |
| Mammoth Lakes | $4,077 | $1,351 | 8.6 years | 5.4 years | 87% |
| Fortuna | $2,772 | $1,178 | 5.0 years | 2.8 years | 100% |
| Eureka | $2,706 | $1,177 | 5.0 years | 2.8 years | 100% |
| Mckinleyville | $2,702 | $1,166 | 5.0 years | 2.8 years | 100% |
| Crescent City | $2,511 | $963 | 4.0 years | 2.9 years | 100% |
| Petaluma | $2,402 | $820 | 5.1 years | 3.4 years | 100% |
| Mount Shasta | $3,067 | $758 | 5.5 years | 4.2 years | 90% |
| El Granada | $1,906 | $754 | 5.2 years | 2.4 years | 100% |
| Trinity Center | $2,659 | $724 | 5.8 years | 4.6 years | 97% |
| Weaverville | $2,617 | $721 | 5.8 years | 2.9 years | 96% |
| El Portal | $2,678 | $710 | 5.9 years | 3.0 years | 91% |
| Emigrant Gap | $2,488 | $700 | 6.0 years | 3.1 years | 95% |
| Windsor | $2,038 | $674 | 5.8 years | 3.9 years | 99% |
| Montague | $3,032 | $655 | 6.4 years | 3.5 years | 80% |
| Tehachapi | $2,254 | $653 | 6.4 years | 3.3 years | 97% |
| Monterey | $1,648 | $648 | 5.8 years | 2.7 years | 99% |
| Napa | $1,844 | $640 | 6.1 years | 4.2 years | 100% |
| Novato | $1,711 | $626 | 6.2 years | 2.8 years | 100% |
| Paso Robles | $1,888 | $615 | 6.8 years | 3.6 years | 100% |
| San Francisco | $1,491 | $614 | 6.2 years | 3.2 years | 100% |
| Talmage | $1,862 | $612 | 6.9 years | 3.6 years | 100% |
| Lebec | $1,905 | $609 | 6.9 years | 3.6 years | 98% |
| Lompoc (Vandenberg AFB) | $1,546 | $600 | 6.3 years | 2.9 years | 99% |
| Lompoc (Lompoc Airport) | $1,637 | $593 | 6.6 years | 2.9 years | 100% |
| Solvang | $1,693 | $592 | 6.6 years | 2.9 years | 99% |
| Salinas | $1,542 | $591 | 6.6 years | 3.0 years | 100% |
| Hollister | $1,737 | $588 | 6.6 years | 2.9 years | 99% |
| Santa Maria | $1,533 | $581 | 6.7 years | 3.0 years | 100% |
| Alameda | $1,550 | $577 | 6.6 years | 3.0 years | 98% |
| San Martin | $1,650 | $574 | 6.8 years | 3.0 years | 99% |
| Lincoln | $1,745 | $572 | 7.3 years | 3.9 years | 100% |
| Pleasanton | $1,674 | $561 | 7.0 years | 3.1 years | 99% |
| Shasta | $1,595 | $559 | 7.5 years | 3.2 years | 100% |
| Palo Alto | $1,489 | $548 | 7.1 years | 3.2 years | 100% |
| San Lorenzo | $1,435 | $546 | 6.9 years | 3.2 years | 98% |
| Point Mugu Nawc | $1,222 | $544 | 7.0 years | 3.6 years | 100% |
| San Luis Obispo | $1,422 | $542 | 7.2 years | 3.2 years | 100% |
| Travis AFB | $1,612 | $535 | 7.3 years | 3.2 years | 99% |
| Madera | $1,544 | $532 | 7.9 years | 4.2 years | 100% |
| Davis | $1,598 | $531 | 7.3 years | 3.2 years | 100% |
| Redwood City | $1,368 | $524 | 7.2 years | 3.3 years | 99% |
| Rancho Cordova | $1,542 | $522 | 7.5 years | 3.3 years | 100% |
| Sacramento (Sacramento Airport ASOS) | $1,530 | $515 | 7.6 years | 3.3 years | 100% |
| Concord | $1,489 | $515 | 7.6 years | 3.3 years | 100% |
| Mountain View | $1,352 | $509 | 7.7 years | 3.4 years | 100% |
| Sacramento (Sacramento Metro Airport) | $1,518 | $500 | 7.8 years | 3.4 years | 100% |
| Merced | $1,459 | $500 | 8.4 years | 3.6 years | 100% |
| Lemoore | $1,491 | $499 | 8.4 years | 4.5 years | 100% |
| Bishop | $2,290 | $498 | 8.4 years | 4.0 years | 83% |
| Stockton | $1,511 | $495 | 7.9 years | 3.4 years | 100% |
| Proberta | $1,456 | $494 | 8.5 years | 3.7 years | 100% |
| Cedar Ridge | $1,517 | $493 | 7.9 years | 3.5 years | 98% |
| Auburn | $1,563 | $493 | 7.9 years | 4.2 years | 99% |
| Santa Clara | $1,311 | $490 | 8.0 years | 3.6 years | 100% |
| Placerville | $1,424 | $488 | 8.0 years | 3.6 years | 99% |
| Hanford | $1,420 | $486 | 8.6 years | 3.8 years | 100% |
| San Jose | $1,293 | $480 | 8.1 years | 3.6 years | 100% |
| Redding | $1,468 | $479 | 8.8 years | 4.6 years | 100% |
| Chico | $1,409 | $478 | 8.8 years | 3.8 years | 100% |
| Elmira | $1,494 | $478 | 8.2 years | 3.6 years | 99% |
| Mcclellan | $1,406 | $474 | 8.2 years | 3.6 years | 100% |
| Palmdale | $1,506 | $470 | 8.9 years | 4.7 years | 99% |
| Ramona | $1,507 | $470 | 8.3 years | 3.6 years | 99% |
| Victorville | $1,453 | $458 | 9.2 years | 4.8 years | 99% |
| Beale AFB | $1,383 | $457 | 8.5 years | 3.7 years | 100% |
| Edwards | $1,500 | $454 | 9.3 years | 4.8 years | 99% |
| Lancaster | $1,574 | $452 | 9.3 years | 4.7 years | 96% |
| Porterville | $1,367 | $447 | 8.7 years | 3.8 years | 99% |
| Palermo | $1,381 | $446 | 8.7 years | 3.8 years | 100% |
| Modesto | $1,334 | $441 | 8.8 years | 3.9 years | 100% |
| Santa Barbara (Santa Barbara 11 W) | $1,156 | $441 | 8.6 years | 4.0 years | 99% |
| Visalia | $1,324 | $440 | 8.9 years | 3.9 years | 100% |
| Ridgecrest | $1,415 | $423 | 9.9 years | 5.1 years | 98% |
| Avalon | $986 | $420 | 9.0 years | 4.6 years | 100% |
| Santa Barbara (Santa Barbara Municipal Airport) | $1,097 | $413 | 9.2 years | 4.2 years | 98% |
| Oxnard (Pt Mugu Nf) | $1,015 | $404 | 9.4 years | 4.4 years | 99% |
| Fresno (Fresno Chandler Dwtn Airport) | $1,172 | $398 | 9.8 years | 4.3 years | 100% |
| Oxnard (Oxnard Ventura Co Airport) | $900 | $392 | 9.6 years | 4.9 years | 100% |
| Oceanside | $1,178 | $392 | 10.0 years | 4.4 years | 99% |
| Fresno (Fresno Yosemite Intl) | $1,149 | $389 | 10.0 years | 4.4 years | 100% |
| March Air Reserve Base | $1,064 | $377 | 10.3 years | 4.6 years | 100% |
| Bakersfield | $1,124 | $375 | 10.4 years | 4.5 years | 100% |
| Camarillo | $940 | $372 | 10.2 years | 4.8 years | 99% |
| Temecula | $856 | $362 | 10.4 years | 5.3 years | 100% |
| Corona | $1,007 | $360 | 10.8 years | 4.8 years | 100% |
| San Luis Rey | $987 | $358 | 10.9 years | 4.9 years | 100% |
| San Diego (San Diego Miramar NAS) | $925 | $354 | 10.7 years | 4.9 years | 99% |
| Chino | $929 | $352 | 11.1 years | 5.0 years | 100% |
| Fort Irwin | $1,109 | $342 | 11.4 years | 5.0 years | 98% |
| Daggett | $1,027 | $340 | 11.5 years | 5.1 years | 99% |
| San Diego (San Diego Brown Field) | $835 | $340 | 11.1 years | 5.4 years | 99% |
| San Bernardino | $880 | $330 | 11.8 years | 5.3 years | 100% |
| Santee | $856 | $319 | 12.2 years | 5.5 years | 100% |
| Imperial Beach | $782 | $319 | 11.9 years | 4.5 years | 100% |
| San Dimas | $781 | $310 | 12.2 years | 5.8 years | 99% |
| Twentynine Palms | $848 | $304 | 12.8 years | 5.7 years | 100% |
| Riverside | $758 | $302 | 12.5 years | 5.9 years | 99% |
| Van Nuys | $736 | $298 | 12.7 years | 4.8 years | 99% |
| Sun Valley | $732 | $298 | 12.7 years | 4.8 years | 99% |
| Guasti | $684 | $285 | 13.3 years | 5.0 years | 100% |
| Los Angeles | $672 | $230 | 13.3 years | 4.6 years | 100% |
| Carlsbad | $664 | $226 | 13.5 years | 4.6 years | 100% |
| Torrance | $684 | $224 | 13.6 years | 4.7 years | 100% |
| San Diego (San Diego Montgomery Field) | $684 | $222 | 13.7 years | 4.7 years | 100% |
| Inglewood (Los Angeles Intl Airport) | $582 | $209 | 14.6 years | 5.0 years | 100% |
| Long Beach | $617 | $205 | 14.9 years | 5.1 years | 100% |
| Los Alamitos | $705 | $204 | 15.0 years | 5.2 years | 99% |
| Coronado | $580 | $201 | 15.2 years | 5.2 years | 100% |
| Buena Park | $635 | $197 | 15.5 years | 5.4 years | 99% |
| Pacoima | $567 | $195 | 15.7 years | 5.4 years | 100% |
| El Monte | $581 | $190 | 16.0 years | 5.5 years | 100% |
| Inglewood (Hawthorne Municipal Airport) | $531 | $187 | 16.3 years | 5.6 years | 100% |
| Aliso Viejo | $538 | $187 | 16.3 years | 5.6 years | 100% |
| San Diego (San Diego Intl Airport) | $558 | $182 | 16.7 years | 5.8 years | 100% |
| Blythe | $528 | $142 | 22 years | 7.4 years | 99% |
| Needles | $476 | $132 | 23 years | 8.0 years | 99% |
| Death Valley | $451 | $128 | 24 years | 8.2 years | 100% |
| Seeley | $492 | $128 | 24 years | 8.2 years | 98% |
| El Centro | $455 | $122 | 25 years | 8.6 years | 99% |
| Cathedral City | $320 | $103 | 30 years | 10.2 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.