데이터 센터의 주택 및 지역 경제에 미치는 영향은 시장별로 극적으로 달라지며, 집중도에도 불구하고 균일한 효과를 보이지 않습니다.

The 2026 Data Center Impact Report from the National Association of REALTORS combines national, state and county-level analysis with a survey of real estate agents to examine what data center growth means for housing, jobs and utility costs. Data centers are highly concentrated geographically. While found across much of the country, 92% of U.S. counties have no mapped data centers, and only 1% have 10 or more. Major clusters exist in Northern Virginia, where Loudoun and Prince William counties alone account for about 19% of all mapped data centers nationwide. Other significant clusters include Silicon Valley at 5%, central Ohio at 5%, the Phoenix area at 4% and central Washington at 4%.

Counties with higher concentrations of data centers generally show higher home values, higher incomes and stronger long-term job growth. The median home value in counties without data centers is $174,500, while counties with 10 or more data centers have a median home value of $431,750. Over the past decade, home values in high-concentration counties grew 95% compared with 64% in counties without data centers. However, NAR cautions that correlation does not equal causation. These high-value, high-growth counties were already affluent, highly educated technology hubs before the recent surge in new data center facilities.

NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun stated, "There is no single data center effect. Instead, the story varies significantly depending on the local market. The number of data centers alone does not tell us what will happen to home values, jobs or utility costs."

The survey of REALTORS found mixed perceptions about residential impact, with 25% reporting a positive effect on nearby home values and 22% reporting a negative one. The commercial picture was more clearly positive, with 50% reporting increased nearby commercial property values and 42% reporting increased demand for nearby commercial space, particularly industrial properties and land. REALTORS pointed to significant client concerns, primarily energy costs at 61% and water use at 56%.

Yun added, "We do not see evidence of weaker housing markets in counties with a large data center presence. But these are county-level numbers, and they can't tell us what happens to an individual home next to a facility. That's why local knowledge and credible data matter so much right now."

Additional findings show that the 10 counties with the most data centers hold about 42% of all facilities nationwide, with Loudoun County alone accounting for 14%. Median household income is about $89,000 in counties with 10 or more data centers versus $64,000 in counties without. About 41% of adults in counties with 10 or more data centers hold a bachelor's degree or higher, compared with 22% elsewhere. Employment grew about 16% from 2014 to 2024 in counties with 10 or more data centers versus 2% in counties without. Residential electricity rates rose 21.4% from 2020 to 2024 in counties with 10 or more data centers compared with 15.7% in counties without.