A decent 60 gal. electric hot water heater costs $1720.
Then there's the wiring and installation. removal of existing
gas line and breaker hookup. Add another $1000. Yep. Cheaper.
Who needs a 60 gal water heater?
For a tank-style heater, household size is a simple indicator of hot water needs.
https://www.bobvila.com/articles/what-size-water-heater-do-i-need/You can estimate the necessary tank capacity (in gallons) based on the number of people in the house:
1 or 2 people—23 to 36 gallons
2 to 4 people—36 to 46 gallons
3 to 5 people—46 to 56 gallons
5 or more people—over 56 gallons (add 10 gallons per additional person)
Where did you get your price for a 60 gallon water heater?
Are you suggesting the only decent water heaters are heat pump electric?