In a shift, most planned data centers in the U.S. are in rural areas
% of data centers in the U.S. that are in __ areas
Note: Urban/rural categories based on U.S. Census Bureau. Planned category includes data centers listed as “under construction,” “planned” or “land banked.”
Source: Data Center Map, accessed Feb. 19, 2026.
PEW RESEARCH CENTER
In a shift, most planned data centers in the U.S. are in rural areas
% of data centers in the U.S. that are in __ areas
| Data center status | Urban | Rural |
|---|---|---|
| Planned | 33 | 67 |
| Currently operating | 87 | 13 |
Note: Urban/rural categories based on U.S. Census Bureau. Planned category includes data centers listed as “under construction,” “planned” or “land banked.”
Source: Data Center Map, accessed Feb. 19, 2026.
PEW RESEARCH CENTER
