Three-in-ten Americans say a data center is operating or planned nearby
Core finding
Verasight surveyed 1,500 U.S. adults from September 16 to 21, 2026. 29.8% say a large data center is operating or planned within about 10 miles of home.
Planned data centers account for 20.3%, and already operating centers for 9.5%. Another 40.0% say neither is nearby and 30.2% are unsure. These are residents’ reports, not a verified inventory of facilities.
Topline distribution
Three-in-ten Americans say a data center is operating or planned nearby.
As far as you know, is there a large data center, a building full of computers that powers things like cloud storage and artificial intelligence, currently operating or planned within about 10 miles of your home?
n = 1,500 · Sep 16–21, 2026 · MoE ±2.6%
Methodology
Full methodology →| Mode | Verasight panel recruited via random address-based sampling, random person-to-person text messaging, and dynamic online targeting |
|---|---|
| Population | US adults age 18+ |
| Field dates | Sep 16–21, 2026 |
| Base (unweighted) | 1,500 |
| Margin of error | ±2.6% |
| Module | Current Events Survey #2026-243 |
| Sponsor | Verasight |
| Weight variable | weight |
| Weighting targets | age, race/ethnicity, sex, income, education, region, metropolitan status |
Sources
- reports.verasight.io/r/2026-243-current-events-report
As far as you know, is there a large data center, a building full of computers that powers things like cloud storage and artificial intelligence, currently operating or planned within about 10 miles of your home?
Cite this question
September Verasight National Survey: Current Events and Prediction Markets, fielded September 16-21, 2026, N=1,500 US adults age 18+, +/- 2.6%.