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Data centers show mixed, non-uniform effects on local housing markets
A NAR study of more than 3,200 counties found 92% have no mapped data center facilities, and Realtor surveys split between positive and negative views on nearby home prices.
The National Association of Realtors said data centers are reshaping local housing and jobs in ways that vary widely by location, cautioning against simple assumptions about what the facilities do to nearby home values. In its report titled “2026 Data Center Impact,” NAR analyzed more than 3,200 counties and surveyed Realtor members about impacts on housing, employment and real estate activity.
According to HousingWire, counties with data centers generally show higher home values and stronger long-term job growth, but NAR stressed correlation does not equal causation. Nadia Evangelou, NAR principal economist and director of real estate research and the report’s lead author, said the research does not support the idea that a data center will automatically lower or raise nearby home values.
The report mapped 1,474 data centers across 251 U.S. counties, with 92% of all counties having no facilities. Loudoun County, Virginia led with 213 data center sites, followed by Santa Clara County, California at 75, and Maricopa County, Arizona and Prince William County, Virginia at 63 each, the article said.
Realtor perceptions were mixed, HousingWire reported, with 25% of respondents saying data centers had a positive impact on nearby residential property values and 22% reporting a negative impact. The survey highlighted concerns including energy costs and water use, while the benefits were described as most pronounced for commercial real estate and industrial properties.