Side-by-Side Comparison

Data Center vs. Subdivision

What happens when the same land becomes 500 homes vs. a modern data center? Adjust the sliders and let the math speak for itself.

500
100 Homes 1,000 2,000
$350,000
$200K $475K $750K

Equivalent data center valuation scales automatically based on land use comparison. Tax rate: 1.55% combined (Bastrop County baseline).

Subdivision
Data Center

Annual Property Tax Revenue

Paid into local treasuries each year

$2,712,500
$15,500,000

New Students Added to ISD

Additional students requiring public school seats

650
kids needing schools
0
minimal impact on schools

Annual Cost to ISD

~$12,000/student education cost per year

$7,800,000
NET DRAIN on schools
$0
minimal impact on schools

Daily Water Consumption

Gallons drawn from local supply per day

300,000
gallons/day
14,000
gallons/day

Annual Emergency Calls

Fire, EMS, and police responses per year

2,500
calls/year
~12
calls/year (on-site teams)

Daily Vehicle Trips

Traffic load on county roads each day

5,000
trips/day
~150
trips/day (shift workers)

Permanent Jobs Created

Full-time positions after construction

~50
retail / service jobs
~150
high-paying tech jobs

Average Salary of New Jobs

Mean annual compensation

~$35,000
retail / service sector avg
~$78,000
No degree required
The Verdict

A data center generates 5.7× more tax revenue while consuming 95% less water and adding minimal students to local schools.

The math isn't close. A single data center delivers more community revenue, fewer municipal costs, and better-paying jobs than an equivalent residential development.

* Subdivision estimates based on ITE Trip Generation Manual (10 trips/home/day), EPA WaterSense household averages (600 gal/home/day), NFPA emergency response rates (5 calls/home/yr), and national per-pupil cost averages ($12,000/student). Data center figures based on modern closed-loop facilities and industry employment benchmarks. Tax rate: 1.55% combined (Bastrop County baseline).

TomorrowBot
Data center facts at your fingertips