How do I choose a data centre location?

Six factors determine data centre location suitability: power infrastructure (substation proximity, transmission line access, utility capacity), connectivity (IXP proximity, fibre density, carrier diversity), natural disaster risk (flood zones, seismic hazard, severe weather exposure), market maturity (existing DC capacity, operator ecosystem, tenant demand), regulatory environment (zoning, permitting timeline, tax incentives, community sentiment), and cost structure (power rates, construction costs, labour, taxes). Power is the most heavily weighted factor because without adequate electrical infrastructure, nothing else matters. Use our free Viability Score tool to get an instant assessment of any US address across these dimensions.