Data centers bring jobs and higher house prices to US counties, but also higher electricity costs

New research shows that when a data center moves into a US county, it creates jobs and raises house prices. But it also drives up electricity prices for everyone in that county.

For years, local governments have debated whether data centers are good for their communities. This paper provides concrete evidence that they bring economic activity, but also increase the cost of living through higher housing and electricity prices. This means cities and counties now have a clearer picture of the trade-offs when deciding whether to attract these facilities.