Intel's New Albany Fab and Central Ohio Real Estate
Intel's Ohio One semiconductor campus in New Albany is driving measurable housing demand across the east-side Franklin County and Licking County corridors, pushing New Albany's median sale price to $600,000 and compressing inventory as owner-occupants, construction workers, and investors all compete for the same homes.
How is Intel's New Albany semiconductor fab affecting Central Ohio real estate?
Intel's Ohio One campus is already reshaping housing demand across New Albany and the east-side Columbus suburbs, even before full-scale chip production begins. Recent local market data puts New Albany's median sale price at $600,000 with homes sitting on the market a median of 50 days, and three distinct buyer groups (owner-occupant tech workers, construction contractors, and investors) are all competing for a limited pool of listings. The demand is phased and long-term, not a single shock, which means the market pressure is unlikely to ease when construction wraps up.
Key Takeaways
New Albany's median sale price sits at $600,000 as of September 2026, based on recent local market data, with only 60 active listings and 26 new listings added in the past 30 days.
Intel's initial investment phase is projected to create 3,000 Intel jobs, 7,000 construction jobs, and tens of thousands of additional supplier-ecosystem positions, according to Intel's own reporting.
Intel reported investing approximately $1.4 billion in Ohio in 2025 and employing 162 people at Ohio One, with no further construction delays anticipated as of early 2026.
The housing impact extends well beyond New Albany city limits, Pataskala, Etna Township, and Gahanna are all seeing tighter inventory and pricing pressure from Intel-corridor demand.
Economist Enrico Moretti's research suggests each high-paying tech job supports roughly five local service jobs, meaning the full demand multiplier on Central Ohio housing hasn't arrived yet.
What is the "Intel Effect" on New Albany home prices, and why is it happening before the fab opens?
The short answer: real estate markets price in expectations, not just current conditions. Buyers, especially those relocating for tech roles or investing ahead of demand, don't wait for a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
A June 2026 New Albany market overview reported a median sale price of $675,000, up 17.39% year-over-year, with homes selling in a median of 33 days. Recent aggregated local market data for the trailing 90 days puts the median closer to $600,000 with 50 median days on market, still well above the Central Ohio regional median of $350,000 reported in the Columbus REALTORS® July 2026 Central Ohio Housing Report.
Three distinct buyer groups are driving that pressure right now, according to a Central Ohio housing analysis published in August 2026:
Owner-occupant Intel employees and tech workers who want proximity to the campus and are often relocating from higher-cost markets with equity to spend.
Construction workers and contractors who need housing during a multi-year build-out and are competing for the same entry and mid-tier inventory as local families.
Investors, both local and outside capital, targeting appreciation plays and rental demand near the site.
That three-way competition compresses inventory fast. With only 60 active listings across New Albany as of September 2026, there isn't much cushion. Sellers in the corridor are benefiting; buyers are navigating a market that doesn't reward hesitation.
I work with clients on both sides of this equation, and the question I hear most from incoming buyers is some version of: "Is now too late?" The honest answer depends on your timeline, your price point, and which part of the corridor you're targeting, and that's a conversation worth having before you start touring homes.
The phased timeline matters for your strategy
Intel's Ohio One campus is being built in phases. As of early 2026, Intel stated it does not anticipate further delays, following prior postponements since groundbreaking. The company reported investing about $1.4 billion in Ohio in 2025 and employing 162 people at the site, almost entirely Ohio residents.
Full fab operation, with the bulk of the 3,000 permanent Intel positions, is expected around 2030–2031. That means the current market pressure is largely construction-phase demand. The permanent-workforce demand, higher-wage, longer-tenure, owner-occupant buyers, is still ahead of us. A July 2026 LinkedIn analysis citing economist Enrico Moretti noted that each high-paying tech job can support roughly five local service jobs, meaning the full demand multiplier on Central Ohio housing hasn't hit yet.
For buyers who can afford to move now, that timeline is an argument for acting before the permanent workforce arrives. For sellers, it's a reminder that the demand story has more chapters to run.
Which neighborhoods are feeling the Intel effect most, and where do buyers have more room?
New Albany gets the headlines, but the housing impact from Ohio One is spreading across a wider corridor. The communities seeing the most direct pressure are those inside or adjacent to the New Albany school-district boundary and the east-side Franklin County suburbs closest to the campus site.
Pataskala and Etna Township, just east of New Albany in Licking County, are consistently cited as first-ring impact zones. They offer a mix of new construction and existing single-family stock at price points below central New Albany, with commute times typically under 30 minutes to the Intel site. Gahanna and Pickerington are also absorbing second-order demand as buyers who can't find or afford New Albany look for the next closest option.
Here's how New Albany compares to other Central Ohio submarkets in recent local market data (trailing ~90 days, as of September 2026):
AreaMedian Sale PriceMedian Days on MarketLewis Center$546,78050Powell$538,00040Dublin$575,00036Westerville$450,00029Delaware$460,00036Upper Arlington$649,90053New Albany$600,00050Orange Township$581,50061
A few things stand out. New Albany's $600,000 median is the second-highest in this group, trailing only Upper Arlington. But Westerville at $450,000 and Delaware at $460,000 both offer meaningful price relief with reasonable commutes to the Intel site, and both are communities I know well. For incoming tech workers priced out of New Albany, those corridors are worth a serious look.
I always help buyers think about the right community first, because proximity to the Intel campus matters differently depending on whether you're a permanent employee, a contractor, or simply someone who wants to be positioned ahead of long-term appreciation. The right neighborhood for one buyer isn't the right neighborhood for another, and I walk my clients through that tradeoff before we ever open a door.
If you're a newcomer trying to figure out where Central Ohio buyers actually end up, this breakdown of where newcomers to Central Ohio tend to land gives useful context on the broader market geography.
What sellers in the Intel corridor should know
If you own a home in New Albany, Pataskala, Gahanna, or anywhere in the east-side corridor, the Intel project has almost certainly worked in your favor on paper. But "the market is hot" is not a pricing strategy.
With 60 active listings and 123 homes sold in the trailing 90 days across New Albany, inventory is tight, but it's not zero. Buyers in this price range are sophisticated, and overpriced homes are sitting. Recent local market data shows a median of 50 days on market, which means sellers who price correctly are moving product; sellers who test the ceiling are watching it age.
Pricing from day one, based on what comparable homes are actually closing at, beats chasing the market down later every time. That's not a general principle, it's what I see play out repeatedly in this specific corridor. If you're thinking about selling, the first step is a current market analysis, not a Zestimate.
And if you've received a cash offer from an investor or a "we buy houses" company, read this before you sign anything, investor demand in Intel-adjacent neighborhoods is real, but so is the gap between what they offer and what the open market will pay.
For a broader read on where the Central Ohio market stood heading into the second half of 2026, the June 2026 Columbus housing market update has useful regional context.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is Intel's New Albany chip plant changing home prices and demand right now?
Intel's Ohio One campus is already driving measurable demand in New Albany and the east-side Columbus suburbs, with New Albany's median sale price reaching $600,000 based on recent local market data and only 60 active listings available as of September 2026. Three buyer groups, owner-occupant tech workers, construction contractors, and investors, are all competing for the same limited inventory, compressing supply and sustaining upward price pressure. The permanent-workforce phase of Intel's hiring hasn't arrived yet, so current demand is largely construction-phase, with more to come as the fab moves toward full operation around 2030–2031.
Will Intel's Ohio One campus make it harder for local buyers to afford a home in New Albany or nearby suburbs?
For buyers targeting New Albany specifically, affordability is a real constraint, the $600,000 median puts it well above the Central Ohio regional median of $350,000 reported in the Columbus REALTORS® July 2026 Central Ohio Housing Report. Nearby communities like Westerville ($450,000 median) and Delaware ($460,000 median) offer meaningful price relief with commute times that still work for Intel employees. The key is identifying which corridor fits your budget and timeline before competition narrows your options further.
What neighborhoods near the Intel site are seeing the biggest housing impact?
New Albany, Pataskala, and Etna Township are the first-ring impact zones, with tighter inventory and pricing pressure closest to the campus site, according to a Central Ohio housing analysis from August 2026. Second-order effects are spreading into Gahanna, Pickerington, and other nearby communities as buyers who can't land in New Albany look for the next closest option. Communities inside the New Albany school-district boundary tend to command the highest premiums.
If the Intel fab won't be fully operational until 2030–2031, why are New Albany home prices already rising?
Real estate markets price in expectations ahead of actual demand, buyers relocating for construction roles, investors positioning for appreciation, and early Intel employees are all active in the market now, before a single chip ships. Intel's projected 7,000 construction jobs and 3,000 permanent positions represent a long-duration demand story, and buyers who understand phased development are moving early to get ahead of the permanent-workforce wave.
Where can incoming Intel engineers and tech workers find more affordable options within commuting distance of New Albany?
Westerville, Delaware, Lewis Center, and Powell all sit within a reasonable commute of the Ohio One campus and carry lower median sale prices than New Albany, ranging from $450,000 in Westerville to $546,780 in Lewis Center, based on recent local market data. Pataskala and Etna Township to the east offer additional options, including new construction, at prices below central New Albany. The right community depends on your commute tolerance, lifestyle priorities, and budget, that's exactly the conversation I have with every relocating buyer before we start touring.
The Intel effect on Central Ohio real estate is real, phased, and still building. Whether you're a seller wondering what your home is worth in this market, or a buyer trying to find your footing before the permanent workforce arrives, the decisions you make in the next 12–18 months will matter. I'd be glad to walk you through a current market analysis or help you map out a buying strategy that accounts for where this corridor is headed.
Ready to talk through your options? Schedule a no-pressure consultation and let's look at the numbers together.
About Chrisi Hagan
Chrisi Hagan is a REALTOR® with the Collins Lassiter Group at Red 1 Realty, serving Columbus and Central Ohio and ranked in the top 1% of Columbus MLS agents. She specializes in helping buyers and sellers, including those rightsizing, relocating, and military families, make confident moves across New Albany, Lewis Center, Powell, Dublin, Westerville, and the broader Central Ohio market.
Equal Housing Opportunity. Chrisi Hagan is licensed as a Real Estate Salesperson in Ohio, regulated by the Ohio Division of Real Estate & Professional Licensing. This article is general information only and does not constitute legal, tax, or financial advice. Confirm your own numbers with your title company, tax advisor, or lender.
