Where this data comes from.

The source

All prices come from the National Database of Childcare Prices (NDCP), published by the U.S. Department of Labor Women's Bureau. The NDCP compiles county-level results from each state's childcare market rate survey, the same surveys states use to set subsidy rates. It is the most comprehensive public source of local childcare prices in the country, covering 2,917 counties. We publish the federal figures as-is and do not adjust, model, or estimate prices ourselves.

What the numbers mean

Each figure is the median weekly price for full-time care in that county: half of local programs charge more and half charge less. Prices are broken out by setting (centers versus licensed home-based programs, which the data calls family childcare) and by four age groups: infant, toddler, preschool, and school-age.

Monthly figures are our conversion: weekly price times 52 weeks, divided by 12 months. Annual figures are the weekly price times 52. The share-of-income figure divides the annual infant price by the county's median household income, which comes from the same federal dataset for the same year. State and national medians are computed across all reporting counties.

Study years

Each county shows its most recent study year with published prices, labeled on every page. Most counties report 2022data, the latest federal release; a small number only have older surveys. Prices are in that study year's dollars and are not adjusted for inflation, so treat them as a floor: tuition has generally risen since the surveys were taken.

Limitations

• Some county figures are federal statistical estimates rather than direct survey results, where a state's survey did not cover a county with enough responses.
• A dash on any page means the NDCP published no price for that age group and setting in that county.
• The federal data has no published prices for Indiana or New Mexico, so those states have no cost pages.
• Medians hide a wide range. Program quality, schedules, age cutoffs, and part-time rates all move real tuition well above or below these figures, so always confirm current rates with local providers.

Updates

The Department of Labor updates the NDCP roughly once a year. We regenerate every page from the new release when it lands, keeping each county on its most recent study year. Questions about the data or a correction? Email support@goseedling.com.