Childcare costs in Story County, IA.
Median weekly prices for full-time care in Story County from the federal National Database of Childcare Prices (2022 study year). A spot in an infant room at a local center runs about $170 per week at the median, which works out to $737 a month.
| Age group | Center, weekly | Center, monthly | Home-based, weekly | Home-based, monthly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Infant | $170 | $737 | $115 | $498 |
| Toddler | $147 | $637 | $113 | $490 |
| Preschool | $147 | $637 | $113 | $490 |
| School-age | $117 | $507 | $109 | $472 |
Prices are county-level weekly medians for full-time care from the federal National Database of Childcare Prices, shown for each county’s most recent study year in that year’s dollars. Some county figures are federal estimates rather than direct survey results, and actual tuition varies widely by program, schedule, and age policies. This information is a general benchmark only, not a quote or financial advice, and Seedling makes no guarantee of its accuracy or completeness. Always confirm current rates with local providers. Source: the National Database of Childcare Prices (DOL Women's Bureau), 2022 study year. A dash means the federal data published no price for that age group here. Read the full methodology.
Versus Iowa
6% higher
Infant care here is $170/week versus the Iowa median of $160 and the national median of $173.
Share of income
13.4%
A year of full-time infant care at the median ($8,840) as a share of Story County's median household income ($66,197, 2022).
Common questions
How much does infant daycare cost in Story County?
The median price for full-time infant care at centers in Story County is about $170 per week, roughly $737 per month or $8,840 per year (2022 study year). Home-based programs run about $115 per week.
Is childcare in Story County more expensive than the rest of Iowa?
Somewhat, yes: median center-based infant care in Story County is about $170 per week, above the Iowa statewide median of $160.
Why do these numbers differ from quotes I see locally?
These are county-wide medians for full-time care from the federal National Database of Childcare Prices, reported for the 2022 study year in that year's dollars. Half of local programs charge more and half charge less, and tuition has generally risen since the study year, so treat them as a floor for budgeting and confirm current rates with providers directly.
Why does infant care cost so much more than preschool?
Staffing. Licensing requires far more adults per infant than per preschooler (in Iowa, one adult per 4 infants versus one per 12 preschoolers), and payroll is most of a program's budget, so the youngest rooms are the most expensive to run.
Why prices look the way they do
Staffing rules set the cost floor: Iowa licensing requires one adult for every 4 infants but one for every 12 preschoolers, which is why infant rooms cost the most.
Iowa childcare ratios