Dallas-Fort Worth Dethrones Virginia as the World’s Top Data Center Market
Dallas-Fort Worth has been ranked as the world's leading data center market, surpassing Virginia, according to reports from Cushman & Wakefield and JLL. Texas is experiencing significant data center growth, challenging Virginia's long-held dominance due to factors like land and power availability. The DFW market's development pipeline is extending into suburban areas as demand continues to outpace new construction.
The Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) area has claimed the top spot as the world's leading data center market, according to recent reports from commercial real estate services providers Cushman & Wakefield and JLL. Cushman & Wakefield's analysis, based on 24 metrics including under-construction capacity, land and power availability, and market size, placed DFW at number one, with estimates suggesting 230 to 270 existing data centers and dozens more under development.
Texas is rapidly expanding its data center footprint, with five highly-ranked markets overall. The state is on track to match or exceed Virginia's total installed capacity, benefiting from a pro-business environment, an independent electrical grid, ample land, and flexible incentives. JLL's report reinforces this, naming Texas the top data center market in North America, citing the level of existing and under-construction gigawatt capacity.
Despite DFW's ascent, Northern Virginia retains its status as the world's largest data center market based on installed capacity. In DFW, the development pipeline continues to push into suburban counties as operators seek available land and power resources. The region also saw industrial leasing tied to data centers more than double in 2025, and construction costs per megawatt were among the lowest in the U.S.