This statistic shows the average monthly costs of child care to a family in the United States, as of 2012. In 2012, 53 percent of respondents stated they paid between 1 and 500 U.S. dollars per month on child care.

The National Database of Childcare Prices (NDCP) provides childcare prices at the county level in the United States. The NDCP is a new data source, and the most comprehensive federal source of childcare prices at the county level in the United States. The NDCP was developed to fill a need for local-level childcare price data, standardized across U.S. states. Most existing sources of childcare price data provide prices at the state level, yet parents must choose childcare providers that are in close proximity to their homes or workplaces. Therefore, state averages are unlikely to be good estimates of the prices parents encounter in the market. State average prices do not reflect the substantial variation in prices from one locale to the next within a state and underestimate prices in urban areas. The NDCP provides data on the price of childcare by children's age groups and care setting (home-based or center-based) at the median and 75th percentile over an 11-year period (2008-2018, inclusive) at the county level. The data were obtained from state Lead Agencies responsible for conducting market rate surveys (MRS) according to Child Care and Development Fund regulations. A MRS is the collection and analysis of prices charged by childcare providers for services in the priced market. All state Lead Agencies must conduct a survey and develop a report on local childcare prices in their state every three years. The Women's Bureau contracted with ICF to obtain reports and data from previously conducted surveys to develop the NDCP. The NDCP standardizes and harmonizes data across years and geographies for about 200 previously-conducted MRS. The NDCP also provides county-level demographic and economic data from the American Community Survey. The accompanying User Guide (U.S. Department of Labor, Women's Bureau National Database of Childcare Prices: Final Report) provides detailed information about the data sources, data collection strategy, standardization and imputation of the data, and data limitations to inform and assist researchers who may be interested in using the data for future analyses. The following items are provided in the User Guide as appendices. Appendix A: Data Collection Protocol and Decisions Made During Data Entry Process, Including State Nuances Appendix B: List of Imputations Performed for Each State and Year Appendix C: Initial Price Modes per States' MRS Reports Appendix D: Data Dictionary and Additional Imputation Methodology Appendix E: Making the Database Accessible

In 2020, the annual costs for full-time care for an infant in the state of New York totaled to 22,500 U.S. dollars. Annual full-time care costs for infants in Maryland was the highest in the country in that year, coming in at 24,500 U.S. dollars.

This database provides county-level childcare prices for most states in the United States over 14 years. The childcare price data are combined with county-level data from the American Community Survey to provide demographic and economic characteristics of the counties. The database facilitates research on childcare prices by county and demographic and economic characteristics.

Graph and download economic data for Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers: Tuition, Other School Fees, and Childcare in U.S. City Average (CUSR0000SEEB) from Jan 1978 to May 2025 about tuition, day care, fees, urban, consumer, CPI, inflation, price index, indexes, price, and USA.

United States - Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers: Tuition, Other School Fees, and Childcare in U.S. City Average was 888.53600 Index 1982-84=100 in May of 2025, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, United States - Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers: Tuition, Other School Fees, and Childcare in U.S. City Average reached a record high of 888.53600 in May of 2025 and a record low of 57.50000 in January of 1978. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for United States - Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers: Tuition, Other School Fees, and Childcare in U.S. City Average - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on July of 2025.

In 2022, the average expenditure on babysitting and child care services in the United States was almost 136 U.S. dollars per consumer unit. Between 2007 and 2022, the average expenditure increased by almost 55 U.S. dollars.

The National Database of Childcare Prices (NDCP) provides childcare prices at the county level in the United States. The NDCP is a new data source, and the most comprehensive federal source of childcare prices at the county level in the United States. The NDCP was developed to fill a need for local-level childcare price data, standardized across U.S. states. Most existing sources of childcare price data provide prices at the state level, yet parents must choose childcare providers that are in close proximity to their homes or workplaces. Therefore, state averages are unlikely to be good estimates of the prices parents encounter in the market. State average prices do not reflect the substantial variation in prices from one locale to the next within a state and underestimate prices in urban areas.The NDCP provides data on the price of childcare by children's age groups and care setting (home-based or center-based) at the median and 75th percentile over an 15-year period (2008-2022, inclusive) at the county level. The data were obtained from state Lead Agencies responsible for conducting market rate surveys (MRS) according to Child Care and Development Fund regulations. A MRS is the collection and analysis of prices charged by childcare providers for services in the priced market. All state Lead Agencies must conduct a survey and develop a report on local childcare prices in their state every three years. The Women's Bureau contracted with ICF to obtain reports and data from previously conducted surveys to develop the NDCP. The NDCP standardizes and harmonizes data across years and geographies for about 200 previously-conducted MRS. The NDCP also provides county-level demographic and economic data from the American Community Survey.The accompanying User Guide (U.S. Department of Labor, Women's Bureau National Database of Childcare Prices: Final Report) provides detailed information about the data sources, data collection strategy, standardization and imputation of the data, and data limitations to inform and assist researchers who may be interested in using the data for future analyses. The following items are provided in the User Guide as appendices.Appendix A: Data Collection Protocol and Decisions Made During Data Entry Process, Including State NuancesAppendix B: List of Imputations Performed for Each State and YearAppendix C: County-Level Data DictionaryAppendix D: Methods Used for Specific Demographic Variables – CountyAppendix E: State-Level Data DictionaryAppendix F: Methods Used for Specific Demographic Variables – StateAppendix G: 2008-2018 Imputations for County-Level Childcare Prices from Statewide DataAppendix H: Price Quintile Ranges for State-Level Price DatabaseAppendix I: Summary of Additional 2008-2018 Data Added as a Result of Additional In-Between Study Imputations

For a single parent with two children, earning the average wage, the United States had proportionately the most expensive childcare among selected countries, with net childcare costs taking up 37 percent of net household income. This figure was around nine percent in the OECD on average.

For a couple with 2 children, where one parent earned the average wage, and the other parent earned 67 percent of the average wage. The U.S. and Ireland had the most expensive childcare among OECD countries, with net childcare costs taking up ** and ** percent of net household income, respectively.

Source: National Database of Childcare Prices 2022, Women's Bureau, U.S. Department of Labor Note: Childcare prices are derived from each state's childcare Market Rate Survey. Prices are median yearly prices for one child at the market rate. School-age prices reflect the school-year arrangement (part day). Childcare prices are based on the 2019-2022 data collection cycle and are presented in 2022 real dollars using the CPI-U for child care (day care and preschool in the U.S. city average). NDCP data are intended to be used at the county level; caution is advised when using state averages. State averages are created by weighting county childcare price estimates by county population for counties with available childcare price data. Some states have more missing data than others which could impact the estimated state averages. As a result, state averages may not meet the higher quality standards developed for the NDCP county-level estimates. This product is experimental and may be revised as estimation methodologies improve and additional data become available.

United States - Consumer Price Index for All Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers: Tuition, Other School Fees, and Childcare in U.S. City Average was 849.87800 Index 1982-84=100 in April of 2025, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, United States - Consumer Price Index for All Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers: Tuition, Other School Fees, and Childcare in U.S. City Average reached a record high of 849.87800 in April of 2025 and a record low of 57.30000 in January of 1978. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for United States - Consumer Price Index for All Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers: Tuition, Other School Fees, and Childcare in U.S. City Average - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on June of 2025.

In 2024, the average daily cost for adult day health care services in the U.S. stood at 100 U.S. dollars. However, such costs varied greatly from one state to another. In that year, the most expensive state for adult day health care services was by far Oregon, amounting to 284 U.S. dollars a day, while in Delaware daily rates were just 35 U.S. dollars. In the most expensive states, the daily cost of adult day care actually exceeded that of assisted living facilities and sometimes even home health care. The large variation may be in part due to the source using community subsidy rates where available, thus lower rates were reported, while states with higher rates may capture the full private pay rates.

Summary

The State of Early Education and Care in Boston: Supply, Demand, Affordability, and Quality, is the first in what is planned as a recurrent landscape survey of early childhood, preschool and childcare programs in every neighborhood of Boston. It focuses on potential supply, demand and gaps in child-care seats (availability, quality and affordability). This report’s estimates set a baseline understanding to help focus and track investments and policy changes for early childhood in the city.

This publication is a culmination of efforts by a diverse data committee representing providers, parents, funding agencies, policymakers, advocates, and researchers. The report includes data from several sources, such as American Community Survey, Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care, Massachusetts Department of Elementary & Secondary Education, Boston Public Health Commission, City of Boston, among others. For detailed information on methodology, findings and recommendations, please access the full report here

The first dataset contains all Census data used in the publication. Data is presented by neighborhoods:

• Population 0 – 5 years;
• Population 0 – 2 years;
• Population 3 – 5 years;
• Race/ethnicity for children 0 – 4 years (White, non-Hispanic; Black; Asian; Hispanic/Latinx);
• Family type (married couples, female householder, male householder);
• Poverty status;
• Family median income in the past 12 months;
• Average cost of care as a percentage of median family income (infant, preschool);
• Share of families that cannot afford care (infant, preschool)

The Boston Planning & Development Agency Research Division analyzed 2013-2017 American Community Survey data to estimate numbers by ZIP-Code. The Boston Opportunity Agenda combined that data by the approximate neighborhoods and estimated cost of care and affordability.

Additional notes:

• Record Type: Each record represents a ZIP-Code defined neighborhood. See list below for detailed information on Boston ZIP-Codes used to create each one of the 15 neighborhoods.
• Data Quality: Numbers presented here came from 2013-2017 American Community Survey data. Therefore, these are ESTIMATES and have margin of errors. The smaller the geographical unit, the greater the margin of error. The Boston Planning & Development Agency analyzed the data to estimate numbers by ZIP-Code.
• Race/Ethnicity: Non-White Hispanics may be double counted due to data limitations.
• Cost of Care: The average cost of care as a percentage of median family income was computed assuming the annual average cost of infant care was $19,877 and the average cost of preschool care was $ 13,771 (Childcare Aware of America, 2019). For each neighborhood we estimated the impact of child care (infant and preschool) on its median annual family income.
• Affordability: The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) sets a standard regarding the affordability of child care, where the annual cost of child care should not exceed 10 percent of household annual income. Using this 10% threshold, we estimated that to afford market rate infant care, a family’s annual income would have to be at least $198,770. The census income bracket closest to this income was a family income of $150,000– 199,999. To afford preschool care, a family's annual income should be at least $137,710. Thus, the census income bracket that encompass this income is $125,000 - 149,999. For both infant and preschool care, we underestimated the number of families that can afford care.

This statistic shows the average monthly cost of child care centers for families in the United States in 2015, by state. In 2015, the average monthly cost of childcare in Alabama was 615.67 U.S. dollars.

This table contains data on the number of licensed day care center slots (facility capacity) per 1,000 children aged 0-5 years in California, its regions, counties, cities, towns, and census tracts. The table contains 2015 data, and includes type of facility (day care center or infant center). Access to child care has become a critical support for working families. Many working families find high-quality child care unaffordable, and the increasing cost of child care can be crippling for low-income families and single parents. These barriers can impact parental choices of child care. Increased availability of child care facilities can positively impact families by providing more choices of child care in terms of price and quality. Estimates for this indicator are provided for the total population, and are not available by race/ethnicity. More information on the data table and a data dictionary can be found in the Data and Resources section. The licensed day care centers table is part of a series of indicators in the Healthy Communities Data and Indicators Project (HCI) of the Office of Health Equity. The goal of HCI is to enhance public health by providing data, a standardized set of statistical measures, and tools that a broad array of sectors can use for planning healthy communities and evaluating the impact of plans, projects, policy, and environmental changes on community health. The creation of healthy social, economic, and physical environments that promote healthy behaviors and healthy outcomes requires coordination and collaboration across multiple sectors, including transportation, housing, education, agriculture and others. Statistical metrics, or indicators, are needed to help local, regional, and state public health and partner agencies assess community environments and plan for healthy communities that optimize public health. More information on HCI can be found here: https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/OHE/CDPH%20Document%20Library/Accessible%202%20CDPH_Healthy_Community_Indicators1pager5-16-12.pdf

The format of the licensed day care centers table is based on the standardized data format for all HCI indicators. As a result, this data table contains certain variables used in the HCI project (e.g., indicator ID, and indicator definition). Some of these variables may contain the same value for all observations.

United States Construction VIP: Private: Educational: Preschool data was reported at 0.050 USD bn in May 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 0.048 USD bn for Apr 2018. United States Construction VIP: Private: Educational: Preschool data is updated monthly, averaging 0.043 USD bn from Jan 1993 (Median) to May 2018, with 305 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 0.099 USD bn in Jun 2001 and a record low of 0.005 USD bn in Feb 1993. United States Construction VIP: Private: Educational: Preschool data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by US Census Bureau. The data is categorized under Global Database’s USA – Table US.EA001: Value of Construction Put in Place (VIP): Current Price.

Changing lifestyles and economic headwinds have posed insurmountable challenges to after-school program providers. The shift toward remote work has allowed many parents to be home when their children finish school, decreasing the need for external care. Inflation has also reduced disposable incomes, forcing families to cut non-essential expenses like after-school programs. Despite a period of declining unemployment rates, an uptick in unemployment by 2024 is bringing back lessened demand as jobless parents can care for their children themselves. Still, solid federal support for after-school programs has helped slow providers' descent. Revenue has been dropping at a CAGR of 3.3% to an estimated $20.9 billion over the five years through 2024, including an expected 1.3% dip in 2024 alone. Parents' evolving lifestyles and financial constraints have significantly impacted after-school programs' profit. Remote and hybrid work has cut parents' reliance on after-school care. Competition is heating up as providers seek to capture evaporating demand. Intense price- and quality-based competition has limited providers' ability to adjust fees to cover rising costs, forcing many providers' profit near zero. To cope, providers have restructured to hire part-time workers, who don't require benefits. While government support through federal programs like the 21st Century Community Learning Centers (CCLC) has provided some aid, many providers continue to struggle. After-school program providers are expected to see some relief moving forward. Disposable incomes are set to climb as inflation subsides, allowing parents to afford additional childcare services. An increase in high-earning households will support demand from after-school program providers' top market. However, rising unemployment and continued remote work are expected to keep demand subdued. Providers will need to remain competitive by offering better services and potentially lower fees, muting growth further. While federal funding remains crucial, programs must diversify their financial sources to ensure long-term viability amid changing demographic and economic landscapes. Revenue is set to swell at a CAGR of 0.5% to an estimated $21.4 billion through the end of 2029.

Over the last five years, the aging Baby Boomer generation, nearly one-fifth of the US population, has significantly boosted demand for adult day cares. Adult day cares have seen solid usage as improving life expectancies expands their primary client base. The industry's growing popularity as a low-cost alternative to nursing homes led to an influx of new providers, particularly among owner-operators offering at-home care. The rise of at-home adult day care services has perpetuated adult day care's fragmentation, allowing new providers to cater to underserved areas. Despite this growth, labor shortages force higher wages and compress profit. Adult day care providers' revenue has been climbing at a CAGR of 2.1% to an estimated $7.5 billion over the five years through 2024, including an expected rise of 1.3% in 2024 alone. Federal Medicaid funding has played a critical role in supporting adult day care providers. With over two-thirds of participants fully covered by Medicaid, increased funding has made adult day care services more accessible. However, potential legislative changes pose risks; Trump's return to the Oval Office will bring efforts to cut Medicaid funding and repeal the ACA. The reduction or disappearance of federal aid would cut off many's access to adult day care and significantly change the outlook for providers. In the next five years, a continued rise in the population's average age will bring stronger growth to adult day care services. Advances in medical technology and increasing life expectancy will sustain demand, boosting revenue as more older adults seek and maintain enrollment. The industry's growing popularity will intensify competition, prompting centers to enhance care quality to attract clients. Despite political adversity, Medicaid funding is still expected to rise, as well as maintaining service access. Specialization in centers focusing on specific medical conditions, along with the popularity of at-home care, will cater to unique client needs, further shaping the industry's future. Adult day care services' revenue is set to surge at a CAGR of 5.4% to $9.8 billion through the end of 2029.

United States Construction VIP: saar: Private: Educational: Preschool data was reported at 0.577 USD bn in May 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 0.535 USD bn for Apr 2018. United States Construction VIP: saar: Private: Educational: Preschool data is updated monthly, averaging 0.513 USD bn from Jan 1993 (Median) to May 2018, with 305 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1.126 USD bn in Jan 2001 and a record low of 0.070 USD bn in Apr 1993. United States Construction VIP: saar: Private: Educational: Preschool data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by US Census Bureau. The data is categorized under Global Database’s USA – Table US.EA002: Value of Construction Put in Place (VIP): Current Price: Seasonally Adjusted Annual Rate.