September 22, 2026

Views of data centers have turned more negative across demographic and partisan groups in the U.S.

Name: Views of data centers have turned more negative across demographic and partisan groups in the U.S.
Creator: Pew Research Center
Published: 2026-09-22
License: https://www.pewresearch.org/terms-and-conditions/

% who say data centers are mostly bad for …

	The environment		Home energy costs		People’s quality of life nearby		Local jobs		Local tax revenue
	Jan ’26	Aug ’26	Jan ’26	Aug ’26	Jan ’26	Aug ’26	Jan ’26	Aug ’26	Jan ’26	Aug ’26
Total	39	54	38	50	30	49	15	24	12	21
Men	43	57	46	56	33	51	16	25	14	23
Women	35	52	29	44	27	47	13	22	10	19
Ages 18-29	54	64	45	61	42	59	23	37	19	35
30-49	44	59	41	53	34	53	18	28	14	25
50-64	35	51	36	47	27	46	10	19	10	15
65+	26	42	28	40	19	37	7	14	6	13
Postgrad	52	66	50	60	36	55	12	20	10	18
HS or less	28	41	25	39	21	37	13	21	11	20
Some college	40	56	38	52	32	51	17	27	14	23
College grad	51	65	50	60	40	59	16	26	13	23
Urban	41	51	38	48	33	46	18	25	15	22
Suburban	43	58	40	54	30	52	13	24	12	22
Rural	32	50	32	46	28	45	14	22	10	20
Rep/Lean Rep	31	47	33	44	24	42	12	19	10	17
Dem/Lean Dem	50	62	44	58	37	57	18	29	15	25
Heard a lot about data centers	63	73	67	72	51	68	26	35	23	32
Heard a little about data centers	48	54	42	47	35	47	16	22	13	19

Note: Respondents who did not answer are not shown.

Source: Survey of U.S. adults conducted July 20-Aug. 9, 2026.

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Views of data centers have turned more negative across demographic and partisan groups in the U.S.

Views of data centers have turned more negative across demographic and partisan groups in the U.S.

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