Temple TX Data Centers:
What the Boom Means for Home Prices
Rowan’s $700M campus, Meta’s $800M build, and a $2.1B Rowan pipeline are reshaping South Temple. Here is what the numbers actually mean for home prices, neighborhoods, and your buying timeline.
(Phase 1 Campus)
(At Full Build-Out)
(12-18 Month Phase)
(Phases 1 & 2)
How will Temple TX’s data centers affect home prices?
Temple, TX now has multiple hyperscale data centers. Rowan Digital Infrastructure broke ground in 2026 on a $700 million, 300MW campus on Bob White Road in South Temple (part of a projected $2.1 billion, three-project Rowan pipeline), while Meta runs a separate 393-acre, $800 million facility that has been under construction since 2022. For homebuyers, the real impact is split: construction-phase demand tightens rental inventory in South Temple short-term, while the long-term anchoring effect strengthens Temple’s economic base beyond healthcare and military. It is not a price-surge catalyst — roughly 40 permanent jobs at the flagship campus do not move a 4,000-transaction market. It is steady infrastructure investment that makes Temple harder to ignore.
- Investment: $700M campus on 700+ acres at 1707-2351 Bob White Road, South Temple
- Timeline: Groundbreaking March 2026, operations expected by end of 2027
- Jobs: 700+ construction (temp), 30 permanent Phase 1, +10 Phase 2 by 2029
- Power: 300MW at full build-out via Oncor partnership, no new substations needed
- Tax Impact: 50% city property tax abatement for 10 years per construction phase
- Total Pipeline: 3 Rowan projects in Temple, $2.1B+ combined investment planned
- Meta (separate): $800M, 393-acre campus off Eberhardt Rd & Industrial Blvd — building since 2022, now partially operational
What Is the Rowan Data Center Project in Temple TX?
Rowan Digital Infrastructure, a Denver-based data center developer, is building a hyperscale data center campus in South Temple. The Temple City Council unanimously approved the project, and construction began in early 2026. Here is every confirmed detail.
Project Temple (Flagship Campus)
Location: 1707 and 2351 Bob White Road, South Temple. The site sits on 700+ acres near Robinson Family Farm and adjacent to Rowan’s existing facility. The property was voluntarily annexed into Temple city limits from the Extra-Territorial Jurisdiction (ETJ).
Scale: A 300-megawatt hyperscale data center campus for a top-five global technology company (unnamed). At full build-out, this would be one of the largest data centers in Central Texas.
Investment: Minimum $700 million. Rowan has secured power through a partnership with Oncor, and existing infrastructure from its nearby facility means no new transmission lines or substations are required.
Jobs: Approximately 600-700 construction jobs during the 12-18 month build phase. Phase 1 operations will employ 30 full-time workers. Phase 2 adds 10 more positions by the end of 2029. Construction workers will need housing during the build-out period.
The Bigger Picture: Three Rowan Facilities
Project Temple is not the only Rowan development in the area. The company has announced two additional projects:
Project Stampede: 270 acres, also in the Temple area. Details are limited, but the combined investment across all three projects is projected at $2.1 billion minimum with at least 120 permanent positions.
Project Ranger: ~303 acres east of Southeast HK Dodgen Loop along FM 3117. The Temple City Council approved Ranger in April 2026 (4–0 vote) after a packed, past-midnight hearing — the approval that pushed Rowan’s Temple pipeline to a projected $2.1 billion and 120+ permanent jobs.
Every Data Center in Temple, TX (2026)
“Data center Temple TX” is not one project — it is a cluster of separate developers. Here is who is actually building what, and where.
| Operator / Project | Where | Investment | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rowan — Project Temple (flagship, 300 MW) | 1707–2351 Bob White Rd, South Temple (700+ ac) | $700M | Under construction, ops 2027 |
| Rowan — Stampede & Ranger | Temple area / east of SE HK Dodgen Loop (FM 3117) | part of $2.1B pipeline | Ranger approved Apr 2026 (Council 4–0) |
| Meta (separate campus, ~393 ac) | NW HK Dodgen Loop / Eberhardt Rd / Industrial Blvd | $800M+ | Building since 2022; partially operational |
| Oppidan — Connect Temple | 2325 Eberhardt Rd (across from Meta) | ~$80M all-in | ~14 MW, targeted for late 2026 |
The older Longhorn Data Center (a ~135,000 sq ft facility built by Southland Industries, completed 2023) rounds out the cluster. Rowan is the newest and most active, which is why it drives the near-term real estate story below. One thing the headlines blur: Meta operates its own campus — it is not the tenant of the Rowan project, whose customer is an unnamed top-tier global technology company.
When Does Each Phase Hit?
Every construction phase creates a different real estate pressure point. This timeline maps what is confirmed, what is active, and what is still projected.
How Will the Rowan Data Center Affect Temple TX Home Prices?
There are three distinct impact phases. Most people only think about one of them.
Phase 1: Construction Boom (Now through Late 2027)
This is the loudest phase for real estate. Approximately 600-700 construction workers need places to live for 12-18 months. Most will not buy homes. They will rent apartments, extended-stay hotels, and short-term furnished rentals in South Temple, Crestview, and the downtown corridor.
What this means for homeowners: If you own rental property in South Temple, you may see occupancy tighten and rents firm during 2026-2027. If you are a buyer, expect slightly tighter inventory in the sub-$250K range near the site, where construction crews compete for affordable rentals and starter homes.
Phase 2: Operational Anchoring (Late 2027 Onward)
Once operational, the data center employs 30-40 people. These are skilled positions — network engineers, facilities managers, security staff. They earn above Temple’s median household income and are more likely to buy.
What this means for the market: Forty families choosing Temple is meaningful but will not move a market of 4,000+ annual transactions. The real value is economic diversification. Temple’s economy currently depends on Baylor Scott & White, Fort Hood, and light manufacturing. A $2.1B tech infrastructure investment adds a fourth pillar. You can see how that is showing up in the current Temple market data.
Phase 3: Signal Effect (Already Happening)
When a company invests $700M in your city, other companies notice. Rowan already has nearly 2 gigawatts in active development nationally, and they chose Temple for cheap power, available land, fiber access, and a cooperative local government. Those same advantages attract logistics companies, manufacturing operations, and support services.
A George Mason University study of Northern Virginia — the nation’s densest data center market — found that homes closer to data centers commanded higher prices. The researchers attributed this not to the data centers themselves but to the infrastructure quality (roads, utilities, fiber) that attracts both data centers and homebuyers. Temple is getting that infrastructure investment now.
Which Temple TX Neighborhoods Benefit Most?
Proximity to the Bob White Road campus creates three impact zones. Closer does not always mean better — construction noise and traffic are real tradeoffs in the direct zone.
Highest construction-phase impact. Rental demand from workers will be strongest here. Existing affordable housing stock ($120K-$250K) may see occupancy pressure. Tradeoff: construction truck traffic on Bob White Road during the build phase. Investors with existing rentals benefit most short-term.
Established neighborhood ($335K-$555K) close to both BSW and the data center corridor. Permanent employees earning above-median income are likely buyers here. No MUD/PID, strong schools. Already one of Temple’s most in-demand subdivisions.
Temple’s luxury tier ($360K-$950K). Senior data center staff and management may land here. Gated, golf course, premium positioning. Too expensive for most construction workers, so construction-phase disruption is minimal.
Entry-level neighborhood popular with first-time buyers ($180K-$280K). Close enough for permanent employee commutes. Far enough to avoid construction noise. A solid bet for buyers who want proximity without disruption.
Mid-range established area with strong BSW access. Data center employees who prioritize hospital proximity (families with medical careers) may target this zone. Minimal construction-phase impact.
Hills of Westwood, Lake Pointe, Legacy Ranch, The Groves. These neighborhoods benefit from Temple’s overall economic health, not data center proximity specifically. Belton ISD schools and family-friendly amenities drive demand here regardless.
What Could Go Wrong?
Boosters highlight jobs and investment. Opponents focus on water and noise. Here are the risks that both sides understate.
Rowan says the closed-loop cooling system requires a one-time fill of 1-2 million gallons and caps daily usage at 4,000 gallons. But community members point out that this cap applies below 84 degrees. Central Texas averages 260+ days at or above 84 degrees. The city has not released detailed utility records for Rowan’s existing facility despite requests, and there is no independent environmental impact study on file.
Central Texas already faces water pressure. Lake Belton and Stillhouse Hollow levels fluctuate with drought cycles. If all three Rowan facilities reach full capacity during a drought summer, water allocation becomes a political issue. This is speculative, but it is the kind of risk that shows up in 5-year infrastructure planning, not 12-month construction timelines.
Rowan received a 50% city property tax abatement for 10 years per phase. The Texas Tribune reported in April 2026 that statewide data center sales tax breaks cost Texas over $1 billion per year. Locally, this means the city gets half the property tax revenue it would otherwise collect from a $700M asset for a decade. (Worth understanding how Temple property taxes actually work, and how to protest your Bell County assessment.)
The city argues the abatement is worth it because half of something is better than all of nothing (the land was previously undeveloped). This is probably correct for Temple’s current fiscal position. And with Texas now regulating large data-center loads under Senate Bill 6 (passed 2025), existing abatement agreements like Rowan’s could still face public scrutiny. Buyers should understand that data center tax revenue is not replacing residential property tax burden anytime soon.
The “Stop Temple Data Centers” group (templestandstogether.org) has organized residents, and some members have discussed City Council recall efforts. Their concerns center on water depletion, noise, air quality, heat island effects, and a perceived lack of transparency. An open house in March 2026 addressed some concerns, but the group remains active.
For buyers, this matters less as a project risk (the approvals are locked in) and more as a neighborhood dynamics indicator. If you are buying near Bob White Road, understand that some neighbors feel strongly about this development. That local sentiment could affect your experience and — in a very small way — resale perception.
The $2.1 billion total investment figure assumes all three projects — Temple, Stampede, and Ranger — reach completion. Only Project Temple has broken ground. The other two are announced but have no published construction timelines. If market conditions shift, tenant demand changes, or regulatory hurdles emerge, Stampede and Ranger could be delayed or scaled back. Base your buying decisions on the confirmed $700M Project Temple, not the aspirational $2.1B pipeline.
What Does This Actually Mean for You?
I am going to be direct. The Rowan data center is a good thing for Temple, and it is being overhyped by some and unfairly demonized by others.
Here is what I tell my clients: do not buy a house because of the data center. Buy a house because Temple’s fundamentals — affordable housing, strong healthcare employment, military presence, and improving infrastructure — were already solid before Rowan announced. The data center confirms those fundamentals. It does not create them.
The $700M headline is real. But 40 permanent jobs do not move a housing market. What moves a market is the signal: a well-funded tech infrastructure company chose Temple over hundreds of other small cities. That matters for long-term property values because it attracts secondary investment. Vendors, support services, and other tech operations follow.
If you are an investor, the play is south Temple rentals during the construction phase (2026-2027). Short-term furnished rentals near the site will see demand from construction crews. If you are a buyer, do not rush. The data center is not going to cause a price spike. It is going to contribute to steady, sustainable appreciation in a market that was already heading that direction.
If you are considering a home near Bob White Road, drive by at night and on weekends. Listen. Look at the construction traffic routes. Talk to the Robinson Family Farm folks about how the partnership is going. Do your homework. The data center is not a reason to avoid the area, but it is a factor to understand before you commit.
What Should Temple TX Buyers Do About the Rowan Data Center?
If You Are Buying a Home to Live In
Do not change your timeline because of the data center. Temple’s market is buyer-friendly in 2026 with 5+ months of inventory and sellers negotiating. The data center supports long-term values but is not creating urgency. Focus on neighborhood fit, school district, commute time, and whether you are comfortable with proximity to an industrial facility if you are looking in South Temple.
Action: If you are considering South Temple neighborhoods, drive the Bob White Road corridor during weekday construction hours before making an offer. Assess noise and traffic tolerance firsthand.
If You Are an Investor
The construction-phase window (now through late 2027) is the most actionable opportunity. Furnished rentals, month-to-month leases, and extended-stay arrangements near the site will see demand from 600-700 construction workers. South Temple and Crestview properties under $200K with quick rehab potential are the sweet spot.
Action: Run the numbers on a DSCR loan for a south Temple rental. If it cash-flows without data center tenant assumptions, the construction-phase demand is upside. Do not buy a property that only works if construction workers rent it — that demand window is 18 months. For the broader buy-and-hold context, see the full Temple investor playbook.
If You Are Selling Near the Site
You have a story to tell. A $700M investment within miles of your property is a legitimate selling point. Use it in your listing description, but be honest: emphasize economic anchoring and infrastructure investment, not speculative price appreciation. Buyers who do their research will see through hype. Sellers who lead with data earn trust.
Temple TX Data Centers: Frequently Asked Questions
How will the Rowan data center affect Temple TX home prices?
The $700M investment will provide modest upward pressure on home values through construction-phase rental demand (2026-2027) and long-term economic anchoring. A George Mason University study found homes near data centers in Northern Virginia commanded higher prices due to infrastructure quality. However, 40 permanent jobs do not create a price surge. Expect steady, sustainable appreciation — not a boom.
Where exactly is the Rowan data center in Temple TX?
The flagship campus is at 1707-2351 Bob White Road in South Temple on 700+ acres near Robinson Family Farm. Project Ranger spans 303 acres east of Southeast HK Dodgen Loop along FM 3117. Project Stampede covers 270 acres in the Temple area. All three projects combined represent $2.1B+ in planned investment.
How many jobs will the Rowan data center bring to Temple?
600-700 construction jobs (temporary, 12-18 months) and approximately 40 permanent positions across Phases 1 and 2. All three Rowan facilities combined target 120+ permanent jobs. The construction workforce creates short-term housing demand. The permanent workforce is small because data centers are capital-intensive, not labor-intensive.
What about water usage and environmental impact?
Rowan claims a closed-loop cooling system with a one-time fill of 1-2 million gallons and daily usage capped at 4,000 gallons below 84 degrees. Community groups question real-world usage during Central Texas summers (260+ days at 84+). No independent environmental impact study is on file with the city. The city is crafting water/wastewater usage and noise restriction agreements.
Should I buy near the Rowan data center site?
The area around Bob White Road in South Temple is investable, especially for rental properties during the construction phase. For primary residences, drive the corridor during weekday construction hours and visit at night to assess noise tolerance. The data center is not a dealbreaker — it is a factor. Neighborhoods like Canyon Creek and Wildflower offer proximity without being adjacent to the facility.
What tax incentives did Temple give to Rowan?
A 50% city property tax abatement for 10 years per construction phase, approved unanimously by the Temple City Council and Bell County Commissioners Court. The abatement applies to city property taxes only. Texas also offers a statewide data center sales tax exemption. Texas passed Senate Bill 6 in June 2025 to regulate large data-center grid loads; the older Chapter 313 tax program expired at the end of 2022, so newer deals like Temple’s use Chapter 312 abatements.
Are they building data centers in Temple, TX, and who owns them?
Yes. Temple has become a Central Texas data center hub. Rowan Digital Infrastructure has three approved projects — Project Temple, Stampede, and Ranger — totaling a projected $2.1 billion. Meta operates a separate $800 million campus, under construction since 2022 and now partially operational. Oppidan Investment Group is adding a smaller ~$80 million facility called Connect Temple. These are distinct developers — Meta is not the tenant of the Rowan campus, whose customer is an unnamed top-tier technology company.
Where are the data centers located in Temple, TX?
Rowan’s flagship campus is on 700+ acres at 1707–2351 Bob White Road in South Temple, with Project Ranger planned east of Southeast HK Dodgen Loop along FM 3117. Meta’s ~393-acre campus sits near NW HK Dodgen Loop, Eberhardt Road, and Industrial Boulevard. Oppidan’s Connect Temple facility is on Eberhardt Road across from Meta.
Need a Local Read on This Market?
I track every data center announcement, every infrastructure project, and every neighborhood shift in Temple. If you are buying, selling, or investing, the timing matters. Let me show you the data.
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