Where heat pumps pay off in Texas
In a typical Texas house heated with propane, a heat pump saves the most near Dalhart ($1,548 a year) and the least near Matagorda ($173). Typical savings $630 a year on a $1,100 heating bill. Pays for itself within 10 years in 95% 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, 158 places in Texas. 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+
Texas at a glance
Gas heat
$250 a year
Pays for itself within 10 years in 10% of its ZIP codes with a hired installer, 98% if you install it yourself. Typical heating bill today $670.
Oil heat
$1,150 a year
Pays for itself within 10 years in 99% of its ZIP codes with a hired installer, 100% if you install it yourself. Typical heating bill today $1,500.
Propane heat
$630 a year
Pays for itself within 10 years in 95% of its ZIP codes with a hired installer, 100% if you install it yourself. Typical heating bill today $1,100.
Electric baseboard heat
$880 a year
Pays for itself within 10 years in 98% of its ZIP codes with a hired installer, 100% if you install it yourself. Typical heating bill today $1,350.
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 Texas, propane heat
| Place | Heating today | Saves a year | Pays back (contractor) | Pays back (DIY) | Heat from the heat pump |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dalhart | $2,618 | $1,548 | 2.7 years | 1.5 years | 94% |
| Dumas | $2,380 | $1,426 | 2.9 years | 1.6 years | 95% |
| Sudan | $2,283 | $1,332 | 3.2 years | 1.7 years | 94% |
| Amarillo | $2,174 | $1,319 | 3.2 years | 1.8 years | 95% |
| Plainview | $2,201 | $1,318 | 3.2 years | 1.8 years | 95% |
| Dawn | $2,136 | $1,286 | 3.3 years | 1.8 years | 95% |
| Alpine | $1,953 | $1,255 | 3.4 years | 1.9 years | 98% |
| Canadian | $2,151 | $1,250 | 3.4 years | 1.8 years | 93% |
| Pampa | $2,022 | $1,238 | 3.4 years | 1.9 years | 96% |
| Borger | $1,924 | $1,184 | 3.6 years | 2.0 years | 96% |
| Lubbock | $1,741 | $1,075 | 3.9 years | 2.2 years | 96% |
| Childress | $1,717 | $1,057 | 4.0 years | 2.2 years | 96% |
| Seminole | $1,659 | $1,044 | 4.0 years | 2.2 years | 97% |
| Sheppard AFB | $1,587 | $978 | 4.3 years | 2.4 years | 96% |
| Andrews | $1,540 | $973 | 4.3 years | 1.8 years | 97% |
| Blackwell | $1,552 | $966 | 4.4 years | 2.4 years | 96% |
| Paris | $1,518 | $963 | 4.4 years | 2.4 years | 97% |
| Snyder | $1,510 | $950 | 4.4 years | 1.9 years | 96% |
| Gilmer | $1,435 | $932 | 4.5 years | 1.9 years | 98% |
| Big Spring | $1,470 | $925 | 4.5 years | 2.0 years | 96% |
| Bridgeport | $1,463 | $920 | 4.6 years | 2.5 years | 97% |
| Mount Pleasant | $1,439 | $920 | 4.6 years | 2.0 years | 98% |
| Early | $1,465 | $919 | 4.6 years | 2.5 years | 97% |
| Sulphur Springs | $1,387 | $901 | 4.7 years | 2.0 years | 98% |
| Greenville | $1,407 | $900 | 4.7 years | 2.0 years | 97% |
| Graham | $1,468 | $898 | 4.7 years | 2.6 years | 95% |
| Marshall | $1,401 | $895 | 4.7 years | 2.0 years | 98% |
| Denton | $1,438 | $894 | 4.7 years | 2.6 years | 96% |
| Pecos | $1,400 | $894 | 4.7 years | 2.0 years | 97% |
| Sherman | $1,423 | $889 | 4.7 years | 2.6 years | 96% |
| Midland (Midland Airpark) | $1,380 | $885 | 4.8 years | 2.0 years | 97% |
| Mineral Wells | $1,398 | $879 | 4.8 years | 2.0 years | 97% |
| Montague | $1,409 | $874 | 4.8 years | 2.1 years | 96% |
| Monahans | $1,341 | $863 | 4.9 years | 2.1 years | 98% |
| Mckinney | $1,345 | $858 | 4.9 years | 2.1 years | 97% |
| Golden | $1,327 | $855 | 4.9 years | 2.1 years | 98% |
| Sonora | $1,328 | $853 | 4.9 years | 2.1 years | 98% |
| Ozona | $1,338 | $850 | 4.9 years | 2.1 years | 97% |
| Llano | $1,331 | $844 | 5.0 years | 2.1 years | 97% |
| Odessa | $1,368 | $788 | 4.2 years | 2.0 years | 92% |
| Coleman | $1,349 | $780 | 4.2 years | 2.1 years | 92% |
| Midland (Midland Odessa) | $1,351 | $773 | 4.3 years | 2.1 years | 91% |
| San Angelo | $1,336 | $755 | 4.4 years | 2.1 years | 90% |
| Fort Bliss | $1,239 | $754 | 4.4 years | 2.1 years | 96% |
| Stephenville | $1,304 | $749 | 4.4 years | 2.1 years | 92% |
| Athens | $1,276 | $743 | 4.4 years | 2.2 years | 93% |
| Decatur | $1,318 | $742 | 4.4 years | 2.2 years | 90% |
| Hamilton | $1,295 | $742 | 4.4 years | 2.2 years | 91% |
| Dyess AFB | $1,301 | $737 | 4.5 years | 2.2 years | 90% |
| Burleson | $1,293 | $736 | 4.5 years | 2.2 years | 91% |
| Junction | $1,289 | $734 | 4.5 years | 2.2 years | 91% |
| Midlothian | $1,270 | $732 | 4.5 years | 2.2 years | 92% |
| Vernon | $1,229 | $727 | 4.5 years | 2.2 years | 94% |
| Terrell | $1,265 | $725 | 4.6 years | 2.2 years | 92% |
| Sweetwater | $1,272 | $724 | 4.6 years | 2.2 years | 91% |
| Brady | $1,246 | $722 | 4.6 years | 2.2 years | 92% |
| Mexia | $1,238 | $720 | 4.6 years | 2.2 years | 93% |
| Texarkana | $1,228 | $716 | 4.6 years | 2.2 years | 93% |
| Rockwall | $1,234 | $716 | 4.6 years | 2.2 years | 92% |
| Abilene | $1,270 | $716 | 4.6 years | 2.2 years | 90% |
| Cleburne | $1,245 | $713 | 4.6 years | 2.2 years | 91% |
| Longview | $1,227 | $711 | 4.6 years | 2.2 years | 92% |
| Fredericksburg | $1,209 | $699 | 4.7 years | 2.3 years | 92% |
| Breckenridge | $1,240 | $697 | 4.7 years | 2.3 years | 90% |
| El Paso | $1,120 | $697 | 4.7 years | 2.3 years | 98% |
| Fort Worth (Ft Worth Alliance Airport) | $1,204 | $686 | 4.8 years | 2.3 years | 91% |
| Center Point | $1,140 | $684 | 4.8 years | 2.3 years | 95% |
| Fort Worth (Ft Worth Meacham Field) | $1,185 | $683 | 4.8 years | 2.4 years | 92% |
| Gatesville | $1,180 | $678 | 4.9 years | 2.4 years | 92% |
| Lampasas | $1,165 | $678 | 4.9 years | 2.4 years | 93% |
| Dallas (Dallas Redbird Airport) | $1,166 | $677 | 4.9 years | 2.4 years | 92% |
| Naval Air Station Jrb | $1,153 | $667 | 5.0 years | 2.4 years | 92% |
| Arlington (Arlington Municipal Airport) | $1,151 | $667 | 5.0 years | 2.4 years | 92% |
| Tyler | $1,136 | $667 | 5.0 years | 2.4 years | 93% |
| Jasper | $1,133 | $658 | 5.0 years | 2.4 years | 93% |
| Irving | $1,129 | $656 | 5.0 years | 2.4 years | 92% |
| Hillsboro | $1,136 | $656 | 5.0 years | 2.4 years | 92% |
| Waco (Waco Regional Airport) | $1,146 | $655 | 5.0 years | 2.4 years | 91% |
| Woodway | $1,130 | $653 | 5.0 years | 2.4 years | 92% |
| Nacogdoches | $1,101 | $643 | 5.1 years | 2.5 years | 93% |
| Gallatin | $1,061 | $636 | 5.2 years | 2.5 years | 95% |
| Arlington (Grand Prairie Municipal Airport) | $1,083 | $634 | 5.2 years | 2.5 years | 93% |
| Waco (Waco J Connally AFB) | $1,030 | $634 | 5.2 years | 2.5 years | 97% |
| Palestine (Palestine 6 WNW) | $1,080 | $632 | 5.2 years | 2.5 years | 93% |
| Dallas (Dallas FAA Airport) | $1,083 | $630 | 5.2 years | 2.6 years | 93% |
| Diboll | $1,078 | $630 | 5.2 years | 2.5 years | 93% |
| Burnet | $1,068 | $630 | 5.2 years | 2.5 years | 94% |
| Palestine (Palestine Municipal Airport) | $1,035 | $622 | 5.3 years | 2.6 years | 95% |
| Fort Stockton | $1,043 | $618 | 5.3 years | 2.6 years | 94% |
| Leander | $1,038 | $616 | 5.4 years | 2.6 years | 94% |
| Addison | $1,058 | $615 | 5.4 years | 2.6 years | 92% |
| Big Bend National Park | $1,002 | $614 | 5.4 years | 2.6 years | 97% |
| Taylor | $1,035 | $599 | 5.5 years | 2.7 years | 92% |
| Corsicana | $1,014 | $596 | 5.5 years | 2.7 years | 94% |
| Hearne | $1,011 | $588 | 5.6 years | 2.7 years | 93% |
| Marble Falls | $991 | $587 | 5.6 years | 2.7 years | 94% |
| Beaumont | $979 | $586 | 5.6 years | 2.7 years | 95% |
| Sanderson | $953 | $578 | 5.7 years | 2.8 years | 96% |
| Georgetown | $984 | $576 | 5.7 years | 2.8 years | 93% |
| Killeen (Robert Gray Aaf) | $966 | $571 | 5.8 years | 2.8 years | 94% |
| Horseshoe Bay | $977 | $571 | 5.8 years | 2.8 years | 93% |
| Killeen (Ft Hood) | $959 | $567 | 5.8 years | 2.8 years | 94% |
| Cameron | $965 | $566 | 5.8 years | 2.8 years | 93% |
| Conroe | $956 | $563 | 5.9 years | 2.8 years | 94% |
| Orangefield | $921 | $555 | 5.9 years | 2.9 years | 96% |
| Austin (Austin Bergstrom Intl Airport) | $940 | $552 | 6.0 years | 2.9 years | 93% |
| Hondo | $938 | $552 | 6.0 years | 2.9 years | 93% |
| Giddings | $912 | $538 | 6.1 years | 3.0 years | 94% |
| Brenham | $905 | $534 | 6.2 years | 3.0 years | 94% |
| Spring | $875 | $526 | 6.3 years | 3.0 years | 95% |
| Maxwell | $887 | $526 | 6.3 years | 3.0 years | 94% |
| College Station | $876 | $523 | 6.3 years | 3.1 years | 95% |
| New Braunfels | $876 | $523 | 6.3 years | 3.0 years | 95% |
| Huntsville | $867 | $517 | 6.4 years | 3.1 years | 94% |
| Austin (Austin-Camp Mabry) | $835 | $499 | 6.6 years | 3.2 years | 95% |
| Bryan | $844 | $497 | 6.6 years | 3.2 years | 94% |
| Waring | $822 | $491 | 6.7 years | 3.2 years | 94% |
| Nederland | $792 | $485 | 6.8 years | 3.3 years | 97% |
| Laughlin AFB | $779 | $476 | 6.9 years | 3.3 years | 96% |
| Katy | $770 | $467 | 7.1 years | 2.8 years | 96% |
| Pleasanton | $772 | $466 | 7.1 years | 3.4 years | 95% |
| Del Rio | $751 | $462 | 7.2 years | 3.4 years | 97% |
| Bay City | $752 | $456 | 7.2 years | 2.8 years | 96% |
| San Antonio (San Antonio Intl Airport) | $752 | $454 | 7.3 years | 3.5 years | 95% |
| Schertz | $745 | $451 | 7.3 years | 3.5 years | 95% |
| Houston (Houston Intercontinental Airport) | $733 | $447 | 7.4 years | 2.9 years | 96% |
| Telferner | $746 | $445 | 7.4 years | 2.9 years | 95% |
| San Antonio (San Antonio Stinson Municipal Airport) | $718 | $436 | 7.6 years | 3.0 years | 96% |
| Gonzales | $721 | $434 | 7.6 years | 3.0 years | 95% |
| San Antonio (San Antonio Kelly AFB) | $713 | $431 | 7.6 years | 3.0 years | 96% |
| Sugar Land | $690 | $421 | 7.8 years | 3.1 years | 96% |
| Pearland | $678 | $417 | 7.9 years | 3.1 years | 97% |
| Austwell | $699 | $406 | 8.1 years | 3.2 years | 92% |
| Houston (Houston Ellington AFB) | $656 | $405 | 8.2 years | 3.2 years | 97% |
| Knippa | $670 | $403 | 7.6 years | 2.6 years | 93% |
| Houston (Houston William P Hobby Airport) | $619 | $383 | 8.6 years | 3.4 years | 97% |
| Fresno | $626 | $376 | 8.1 years | 2.8 years | 94% |
| Palacios | $616 | $376 | 8.8 years | 3.4 years | 96% |
| Cotulla | $604 | $370 | 8.9 years | 3.5 years | 97% |
| Houston (Houston Dunn Helistop) | $616 | $355 | 8.6 years | 3.0 years | 90% |
| Port Lavaca | $578 | $352 | 9.4 years | 3.7 years | 96% |
| Galveston | $561 | $340 | 9.0 years | 3.1 years | 93% |
| Realitos | $562 | $330 | 9.3 years | 3.2 years | 91% |
| Kingsville | $546 | $316 | 9.7 years | 3.3 years | 90% |
| Orange Grove | $532 | $305 | 10.0 years | 3.4 years | 90% |
| Corpus Christi | $506 | $295 | 10.4 years | 3.6 years | 91% |
| Falfurrias | $508 | $292 | 10.4 years | 3.6 years | 90% |
| Laredo | $464 | $282 | 10.8 years | 3.7 years | 93% |
| Fulton | $470 | $270 | 11.3 years | 3.9 years | 90% |
| Alice | $459 | $267 | 11.4 years | 3.9 years | 90% |
| Harlingen | $424 | $258 | 11.8 years | 4.1 years | 93% |
| Hargill | $421 | $249 | 12.2 years | 4.2 years | 92% |
| Edinburg | $410 | $245 | 12.5 years | 4.3 years | 92% |
| Corpus Christi (Corpus Christi NAS) | $383 | $234 | 13.0 years | 4.5 years | 93% |
| Port Aransas | $352 | $214 | 14.3 years | 4.9 years | 93% |
| Los Fresnos | $311 | $196 | 15.6 years | 5.4 years | 95% |
| Mcallen | $285 | $181 | 16.8 years | 5.8 years | 95% |
| Matagorda | $277 | $173 | 17.6 years | 6.1 years | 94% |
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.