AI data centers are now a factor in the homebuying decision
Stafford County, with one operational data center, posted a 29% increase to $1,024.
Impact of AI data centers on education spending — Northern Virginia
Loudoun County
176
data centers #1 in US
$2,955 /resident (2025)
Prince William Co.
77
data centers #3 in US
$1,589 /resident (2025)
Fairfax County
45
data centers #5 in US
$2,234 /resident (2025)
Stafford County
1
data center
$1,024 /resident (2025)
| Metric | Loudoun Co. | Prince William Co. | Fairfax Co. | Stafford Co. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Data centers | 176 Most in US |
77 3rd in US |
45 5th in US |
1 |
| Personal property tax revenue increase (2010–2025) | +639% | +349% | +91% | N/A |
| Education spending per resident increase (2010–2025) | +77% | +82% | +49% | +29% |
| Education spending per resident (2025) | $2,955 | $1,589 | $2,234 | $1,024 |
Source: Redfin analysis of county financial records, 2010–2025. Stafford County personal property tax revenue data not available. All links open in a new tab.
Meanwhile, residential property-tax rates have moved in the opposite direction: Prince William cut its rate from $1.12 per $100 of assessed value in 2022 to $0.92 in 2025; Loudoun trimmed its rate from 0.89% to 0.81%.
“Loudoun County’s expanding data-center tax base has given local officials more capacity to invest in schools, including higher education spending and teacher compensation, without upping tax rates on homeowners,” said Yingqi Xu, senior economist at Redfin.
“Surging data-center revenue allows counties to rely less heavily on homeowners to fund education, though it’s important to note that a surge in data-center revenue doesn’t automatically translate dollar-for-dollar to public spending.”
What the generational divide means for broker conversations
Age shapes the picture considerably. Roughly two-thirds (65%) of baby boomers and 60% of Gen Xers oppose nearby data center construction, compared with 42% of Gen Zers and 43% of millennials, Redfin found.
