Data Centers

William J. Hughes Center for Public Policy at Stockton University Logo

October 13-19, 2026
Weighted Results

NJ statewide poll
n=667 registered voters

In general, how much do you know about data centers?
Response option Percent Count
A lot 13% 89
A fair amount 44% 295
Not much 31% 208
Nothing at all 9% 62
Not sure 1% 8
Refuse 1% 5
Total 100% 667
Has a data center been built or proposed in or near your town?
Response option Percent Count
Yes 21% 141
No 52% 349
Not sure 26% 170
Refuse 1% 7
Total 100% 667

NOTE: The order of questions asking about support for data center development in the United States, New Jersey, and in the respondent’s own town was randomized to minimize question order effects.

In general, do you support or oppose the construction of data centers in the United States?
Response option Percent Count
Strongly support 16% 108
Somewhat support 24% 160
Somewhat oppose 17% 113
Strongly oppos 23% 152
Not sure 19% 128
Refuse 1% 6
Total 100% 667
In general, do you support or oppose the construction of data centers in New Jersey?
Response option Percent Count
Strongly support 10% 67
Somewhat support 19% 130
Somewhat oppose 20% 131
Strongly oppos 33% 218
Not sure 17% 116
Refuse 1% 6
Total 100% 667
In general, do you support or oppose the construction of data centers in the town where you live?
Response option Percent Count
Strongly support 6% 42
Somewhat support 12% 81
Somewhat oppose 16% 105
Strongly oppos 49% 330
Not sure 16% 104
Refuse 1% 6
Total 100% 667
In your view, do data centers generally benefit the communities where they are located, harm those communities, or have little impact either way?
Response option Percent Count
Benefit 10% 66
Harm 47% 311
Little impact either way 18% 122
Not sure 24% 159
Refuse 1% 8
Total 100% 667

NOTE: The order of questions asking about respondents’ concerns or perceived benefits of data centers was randomized to minimize priming effects. Choice order was also randomized.

Which of the following, if any, are your biggest concerns about data centers. You can choose up to three.
Response option Percent Count
Lack of transparency or information 22% 145
Lack of government oversight 22% 143
Does not create enough jobs 9% 62
Concerns about AI 24% 161
Noise 14% 92
Higher electricity bills 45% 301
Air pollution 17% 114
Impact on the water supply 43% 290
Loss of open space 19% 127
Something else (Please specify) 4% 29
None, I have no concerns 5% 33
Not sure 8% 52
Refuse 1% 9
Total 100% 667
Which of the following, if any, do you think are the biggest benefits of data centers? You can choose up to three.
Response option Percent Count
Create good paying jobs 33% 220
Bring in property tax revenue for the town 29% 193
Help NJ compete in the AI and tech economy 27% 179
Support society's increased use of AI and computing 20% 132
Bring new investment and economic activity to the area 5% 37
Something else (please specify) 4% 29
None, there are no benefits 20% 131
Not sure 14% 95
Refuse 3% 18
Total 100% 667

Please rate your level of trust in each of the following to look out for residents' best interests on data center development.
Would you say you trust them a lot, a fair amount, not much, or not at all?

Local officials in your town:
Response option Percent Count
A lot 10% 66
A fair amount 32% 211
Not much 29% 193
Not at all 21% 142
Not sure 7% 48
Refuse 1% 7
Total 100% 667

The governor:
Response option Percent Count
A lot 9% 57
A fair amount 34% 227
Not much 20% 136
Not at all 28% 184
Not sure 7% 50
Refuse 2% 13
Total 100% 667

Utility companies:
Response option Percent Count
A lot 3% 19
A fair amount 19% 128
Not much 26% 173
Not at all 41% 275
Not sure 9% 61
Refuse 2% 11
Total 100% 667

Technology companies:
Response option Percent Count
A lot 3% 19
A fair amount 20% 136
Not much 24% 163
Not at all 40% 267
Not sure 11% 70
Refuse 2% 12
Total 100%  

Are you a renter, homeowner, or do you have some other living arrangement?
Response option Percent Count
Renter 24% 162
Homeowner 62% 417
Other living arrangement 10% 65
Refuse 3% 23
Total 100%  667

Demographics

AGE. Please select your age group.
Age group Percent Count
18-29 13% 85
30-44 21% 143
45-64 32% 214
65 and older 30% 200
Refuse 4% 25
REGION (based on county of residence).
Response option Percent Count
North 49% 327
Central 30% 200
South 18% 120
Refuse 3% 20
D1. Are you Hispanic or Latino?
Response option Percent Count
Yes, Hispanic or Latino 14% 91
No 81% 540
Refuse 5% 36
D2. Which of the following best describes your race:
Response option Percent Count
White 66% 453
Black or African American 12% 93
Asian or Pacific Islander 4% 17
Some other race or multiracial 11% 49
Refuse 8% 54
D3. Which of the following best describes your highest level of education:
Response option Percent Count
Less than a four-year college degree 53% 353
A four-year college degree or more 44% 294
Refuse 3% 20
D4. Which of the following general categories best represents your household income last year before taxes:
Response option Percent Count
Less than $100,000 39% 262
$100,000 or more 45% 299
Refuse 16% 106
D5. Do you consider yourself to be a:
Response option Percent Count
Democrat 38% 251
Republican 22% 146
Independent 31% 206
Something else, not sure, or refuse 10% 64
D6. Lastly, what is your gender?
Response option Percent Count
Man 47% 316
Woman 48% 318
Identify another way or refuse 5% 33

Methodology

The poll of New Jersey residents was sponsored and conducted by the Stockton Polling Institute of the William J. Hughes Center for Public Policy at Stockton University. Data collection took place from October 13-19, 2026 using NJ voter list sample. A total of 667 New Jersey registered voters were interviewed. Responses were recorded via telephone or online in English. Overall, 96% of interviews were conducted on cell phones and 4% on landline phones. In terms of mode, 75% were reached via dialing with the survey administered by a live interviewer and 25% were reached via text-to-web. The live calls were conducted by Opinion Services. The text messages were sent by Stockton Polling Institute staff from the university’s Galloway campus and included a single-use link to take the survey online. The data were weighted to balance the sample demographics using iterative proportional fitting. Weights were based on the voting eligible population in New Jersey on variables of age, race/ethnicity, education level, region, and sex. The poll's margin of error is +/- 3.8 percentage points at a 95% confidence level. The margin of sampling error is higher for subsets. Sampling error does not account for other potential sources of bias in polls such as measurement error or non-response. The poll has a design effect of 1.3. The design effect reflects the increase in sampling variance introduced by weighting adjustments.