$8 Billion in Data Centers Is About to Change THESE 3 Minneapolis Suburbs Forever
About this video
$8 billion in data centers is quietly transforming three Twin Cities suburbs — and most people haven't noticed yet. In this video, I break down why Rosemount, Monticello, and Becker just became the Midwest's data center capital, what's driving billions in investment from Meta and Microsoft, and what it actually means for real estate prices before the national headlines hit. What we cover:
Meta's $800M AI data center in Rosemount $2.5–$5B in tech campus development coming to Monticello Microsoft's 300-acre land buy near Becker Why Minnesota's cold climate, nuclear power, and Fortune 500 base make this a perfect storm A year-by-year timeline of when this starts showing up in home prices
If you're watching the Twin Cities market or thinking about positioning in the south or northwest metro before this becomes mainstream — this one's for you.
Key takeaways
- Big tech is building AI data centers in three Minnesota areas: Rosemount, Monticello and Becker.
- Rosemount: Meta is building an $800 million, 715,000-square-foot AI data center on 280 acres of UMore Park (bought from the University of Minnesota in 2023), targeted to open in 2026, and bought more land across the street in 2025. Xcel Energy is upgrading power to the site at Meta's expense.
- Monticello: two projects totaling more than 4 million square feet on about 650 acres, estimated at $2.5 billion to $5 billion, near the Monticello nuclear plant, which received a license extension to operate into 2050.
- Becker: Microsoft bought about 300 acres near the Sherco power plant in 2024 but hadn't filed formal plans as of the video.
- Why Minnesota: cold air cuts cooling costs, plus prepared industrial land, reliable power, water, fiber and a central location near many large corporate customers.
- Housing, as stated in the video: Rosemount homes mostly trade in the low to mid-$400,000s, about 30 minutes from downtown Minneapolis; Monticello homes are in the low $300,000s, 40 to 50 minutes out. Jason expects contractors, suppliers and rental demand to follow first.
Questions this video answers
Where are the new data centers in Minnesota?
Meta's AI data center at UMore Park in Rosemount, two large proposed campuses in Monticello near the nuclear plant, and land Microsoft bought near the Sherco plant in Becker.
Why are data centers coming to Minnesota?
Cold air lowers cooling costs, and these sites offer prepared industrial land, reliable power from existing plants, water, fiber and a central U.S. location.
Read more: Rosemount community guide · Cottage Grove vs. Rosemount
Notes written by Huerkamp Home Group from this video. Figures are as stated in the video on March 26, 2026; check the current numbers in our market reports.
