{"id":6644,"date":"2026-09-10T11:02:41","date_gmt":"2026-09-10T11:02:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sandpointrealtyidaho.com\/blog\/2026\/09\/10\/data-centers-are-moving-closer-to-homes-what-does-that-mean-for-you\/"},"modified":"2026-09-10T11:02:41","modified_gmt":"2026-09-10T11:02:41","slug":"data-centers-are-moving-closer-to-homes-what-does-that-mean-for-you","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sandpointrealtyidaho.com\/blog\/2026\/09\/10\/data-centers-are-moving-closer-to-homes-what-does-that-mean-for-you\/","title":{"rendered":"Data Centers Are Moving Closer to Homes. What Does That Mean for You?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

$\"Data$ \n

Data centers probably weren\u2019t on your list of things to think about when buying<\/u><\/a> or selling<\/u><\/a> a home.<\/p>\n

School districts? Sure. How close you are to family? Absolutely. A large building full of computer servers down the road? Probably not.<\/p>\n

But that may be changing.<\/p>\n

Data centers are popping up in more communities across the country. And as they do, buyers and homeowners are starting to wonder what having one nearby could mean for everything from home values to utility bills. So, let\u2019s get into what the data actually says. Because there\u2019s a lot more nuance here than if they\u2019re \u201cgood\u201d or \u201cbad.\u201d<\/p>\n

Data Centers Are Showing Up in a Lot More ZIP Codes<\/strong><\/h4>\nAccording to Realtor.com<\/em>, back in 2015, only about a dozen ZIP codes had a large data center. But by the first half of 2026, that number had climbed to more than 100<\/u><\/a> \u2013 and it\u2019s projected to rise even further by the end of the year (see graph below<\/em>):<\/p>\n
$\"a$ That\u2019s a pretty dramatic increase in just over a decade. HousingWire<\/em> shows a lot of that growth<\/u><\/a> is in Texas, Virginia, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Utah, Illinois, Arizona, Indiana, and Nevada.\u00a0<\/p>\n
And that ramp up explains why this is becoming a real estate conversation. More buyers are going to encounter a data center during their search. More homeowners are going to hear about one being proposed nearby.\u00a0<\/p>\n
And both groups are going to want to know what that could mean for them.<\/p>\n
The Big Question: What About Home Values?<\/strong><\/h4>\n
One of the first concerns homeowners and buyers may have is: could a nearby data center hurt home values?<\/em><\/strong> So far, there\u2019s no evidence that says it automatically will.<\/p>\n
Researchers compared communities that have large data centers to similar communities without them. A recent *HousingWire <\/em>article <\/em>**reports<\/u><\/a>:<\/p>\n*
\n
\u201c. . . <\/em>home values in data center ZIP codes generally tracked their matched communities \u2014 with no statistically meaningful gains or losses.<\/em><\/strong> Listing prices showed a modest initial increase around openings . . .\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
That\u2019s important context. Historically, simply having a data center nearby hasn\u2019t been enough to send home values<\/u><\/a> dramatically higher or lower.<\/p>\n
That doesn\u2019t mean every property will react the same way. Proximity, the surrounding development, and the specific facility can all matter. But for the typical homeowner or buyer, the data so far doesn\u2019t point to an automatic impact on home values.<\/p>\n
Living Near a Data Center Can Come with Tradeoffs<\/strong><\/h4>\n
Like any major development coming to town, data centers can bring benefits along with things buyers and homeowners will want to consider.<\/p>\n
On the plus side:<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n
\n
They may be part of a bigger growth story.<\/strong> A data center can usher in broader development in an area and substantial property tax revenue that can be used to improve the community.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
\n
Infrastructure may get an upgrade.<\/strong> New roads, fiber, power infrastructure, and other improvements can come along with major development.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
\n
They can generate economic activity.<\/strong> A data center can generate jobs which in turn fuels local housing demand and supports local businesses.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
On the flip side:<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n
\n
They\u2019re not exactly invisible.<\/strong> Large facilities, transmission lines, substations, and construction can change the look and feel of an area.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
\n
Noise can matter.<\/strong> Cooling equipment, generators, construction, and truck traffic may be noticeable depending on how close you are.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
\n
They use more resources.<\/strong> These facilities can require significant electricity and, depending on the cooling system, water. That can raise questions about local infrastructure and whether growing electricity demand could affect what residents pay.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
On that last point, J.P. Blackwood, Public Affairs Liaison and Media Spokesperson for the Ohio Consumers\u2019 Counsel <\/em>(OCC), explained<\/u><\/a> his take on what consumers need to know about data centers and their potential to impact utility costs to HousingWire<\/em>:<\/p>\n
\n
\u201c<\/em>Utility rate increases tend to be gradual<\/em><\/strong>, and so that\u2019s what I would expect here. Again, a number of factors can drive electricity prices higher and are driving them higher, and this is one of them. <\/em>There are steps being taken around the country to mitigate the effects of data centers<\/em><\/strong>.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Basically, they\u2019re just one factor that can have an impact. And the key word there is \u201ccan<\/em>\u201d because it depends on where you live and what rules are in place in your area.<\/p>\n
So, What Should Buyers and Homeowners Do?<\/strong><\/h4>\nIf you\u2019re buying<\/u><\/strong><\/a>, find out what\u2019s already there \u2013 and what\u2019s approved or proposed nearby. Consider the facility\u2019s proximity, potential noise, future development, and whether utility costs are something you want to factor into your budget.<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re selling<\/u><\/strong><\/a>, don\u2019t assume a nearby data center automatically hurts your home\u2019s value. But buyers may have questions. Knowing the facts about the facility, construction timeline, noise, and future plans can help you address those concerns upfront.<\/p>\n
Bottom Line<\/h3>\n
As more data centers pop up, they\u2019re becoming another piece of the puzzle buyers and homeowners need to understand.<\/p>\n
Have a data center nearby or one coming soon? Talk to a local real estate agent about what it could mean for your home or your next move.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/body>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Data centers probably weren\u2019t on your list of things to think about when buying or selling a home. School districts? Sure. How close you are to family? Absolutely. A large building full of computer servers down the road? Probably not. But that may be changing. Data centers are popping up in more communities across the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6645,"comment_status":"registered_only","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[12],"tags":[29,27,20,18,28],"class_list":["post-6644","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-real-estate-insight","tag-idaho-real-estate","tag-north-idaho-homes","tag-rain-silverhawk","tag-real-estate","tag-sandpoint-idaho"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t