If you've driven through central Ohio lately, you've probably noticed them: massive, warehouse-sized buildings popping up along the highway, often with very little signage and even less explanation. Those are data centers, and they're becoming one of the biggest stories in Central Ohio real estate.

You might be wondering what this means for you, whether you're buying, selling, or just watching your neighborhood change. Here's what you actually need to know.

Central Ohio Is a Bigger Player Than You Might Think

Central Ohio isn't a minor market when it comes to data centers. Franklin and Licking counties together now account for a meaningful share of data centers nationwide, putting the region in the same conversation as Silicon Valley and the Phoenix area. Intel, Google, Amazon, and Meta have all made major investments here, and industry watchers expect dozens more facilities to break ground in the coming years.

That growth is being driven by cloud computing and AI, both of which need enormous amounts of server capacity. Central Ohio's central location, affordable land, and available power made it an attractive target, and the momentum hasn't slowed down.

Will a Nearby Data Center Hurt Your Home Value?

This is the question we hear most, and the honest answer is: it depends. National data actually shows that counties with more data centers tend to have higher home values, higher household incomes, and stronger job growth than counties without them. But that doesn't mean every property next door to a facility performs the same way. Researchers are clear that county-level trends can't predict what happens to one specific house.

Locally, agents haven't reported buyers walking away from purchases because of a planned data center. What we do hear more often are concerns from existing residents about construction noise, traffic during the build, and how these projects fit into a neighborhood's long-term character.

The Real Conversation Is About Utilities, Not Just Real Estate

The bigger source of local pushback isn't property values, it's power bills. Data centers use a tremendous amount of electricity, and some of that added grid demand has contributed to rising costs across the region. Ohio regulators have started requiring data center operators to cover a larger share of the electricity capacity they reserve, specifically to help shield everyday households from footing that bill. It's a fast-moving policy area, so if utility costs are a concern for a neighborhood you're considering, it's worth asking a few extra questions before you write an offer.

What This Means If You're Buying

  • Ask about what's planned nearby. Township and county zoning meetings are public, and proposed projects are often discussed months or years before construction starts.
  • Don't assume the worst, or the best. A nearby data center isn't automatically a red flag or a hidden perk. Judge the specific property, the specific location, and the specific community response.
  • Factor in the bigger picture. Data center growth often comes with new infrastructure, tax revenue conversations, and job creation, all of which can shape a community's trajectory over time.

What This Means If You're Selling

If there's a data center proposed or under construction near your home, get ahead of the conversation instead of avoiding it. Buyers appreciate transparency, and a well-informed answer to "what's that building going up down the road" goes a lot further than silence.

Let's Talk Through It Together

 

Central Ohio's data center growth is still being written, and every neighborhood is reacting a little differently. If you're weighing a purchase near a proposed site, or wondering how a nearby project might affect your home's value, reach out to Kendra and The Carter Group. We're watching these developments closely across Central Ohio and can help you make sense of what it means for your specific situation.