Tennessee childcare costs.
Median weekly prices for full-time care across 95 Tennessee counties, from the federal National Database of Childcare Prices. Infant care at Tennessee centers runs about $131 per week at the median, below the national median of $173.
Statewide medians, per child
| Age group | Center, weekly | Center, monthly | Home-based, weekly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Infant | $131 | $568 | $91 |
| Toddler | $110 | $477 | $98 |
| Preschool | $110 | $477 | $98 |
| School-age | $50 | $217 | $100 |
Medians across Tennessee counties with published prices, most recent study year per county (mostly 2022).
Prices by county
| County | Infant, center | Preschool, center | Infant, home-based |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anderson County | $212/wk | $146/wk | $155/wk |
| Bedford County | $131/wk | $110/wk | $91/wk |
| Benton County | $131/wk | $110/wk | $91/wk |
| Bledsoe County | $131/wk | $110/wk | $91/wk |
| Blount County | $212/wk | $146/wk | $155/wk |
| Bradley County | $212/wk | $146/wk | $155/wk |
| Campbell County | $131/wk | $110/wk | $91/wk |
| Cannon County | $131/wk | $110/wk | $91/wk |
| Carroll County | $131/wk | $110/wk | $91/wk |
| Carter County | $131/wk | $110/wk | $91/wk |
| Cheatham County | $212/wk | $146/wk | $155/wk |
| Chester County | $131/wk | $110/wk | $91/wk |
| Claiborne County | $131/wk | $110/wk | $91/wk |
| Clay County | $131/wk | $110/wk | $91/wk |
| Cocke County | $131/wk | $110/wk | $91/wk |
| Coffee County | $131/wk | $110/wk | $91/wk |
| Crockett County | $131/wk | $110/wk | $91/wk |
| Cumberland County | $131/wk | $110/wk | $91/wk |
| Davidson County | $212/wk | $146/wk | $155/wk |
| Decatur County | $112/wk | $97/wk | $81/wk |
| DeKalb County | $131/wk | $110/wk | $91/wk |
| Dickson County | $131/wk | $110/wk | $91/wk |
| Dyer County | $131/wk | $110/wk | $91/wk |
| Fayette County | $212/wk | $146/wk | $155/wk |
| Fentress County | $131/wk | $110/wk | $91/wk |
| Franklin County | $131/wk | $110/wk | $91/wk |
| Gibson County | $131/wk | $110/wk | $91/wk |
| Giles County | $131/wk | $110/wk | $91/wk |
| Grainger County | $131/wk | $110/wk | $91/wk |
| Greene County | $212/wk | $146/wk | $155/wk |
| Grundy County | $131/wk | $110/wk | $91/wk |
| Hamblen County | $131/wk | $110/wk | $91/wk |
| Hamilton County | $212/wk | $146/wk | $155/wk |
| Hancock County | $131/wk | $110/wk | $91/wk |
| Hardeman County | $131/wk | $110/wk | $91/wk |
| Hardin County | $131/wk | $110/wk | $91/wk |
| Hawkins County | $131/wk | $110/wk | $91/wk |
| Haywood County | $131/wk | $110/wk | $91/wk |
| Henderson County | $131/wk | $110/wk | $91/wk |
| Henry County | $212/wk | $146/wk | $155/wk |
| Hickman County | $131/wk | $110/wk | $91/wk |
| Houston County | $131/wk | $110/wk | $91/wk |
| Humphreys County | $131/wk | $110/wk | $91/wk |
| Jackson County | $131/wk | $110/wk | $91/wk |
| Jefferson County | $131/wk | $110/wk | $91/wk |
| Johnson County | $131/wk | $110/wk | $91/wk |
| Knox County | $212/wk | $146/wk | $155/wk |
| Lake County | $131/wk | $110/wk | $91/wk |
| Lauderdale County | $131/wk | $110/wk | $91/wk |
| Lawrence County | $131/wk | $110/wk | $91/wk |
| Lewis County | $131/wk | $110/wk | $91/wk |
| Lincoln County | $131/wk | $110/wk | $91/wk |
| Loudon County | $212/wk | $146/wk | $155/wk |
| Macon County | $131/wk | $110/wk | $91/wk |
| Madison County | $212/wk | $146/wk | $155/wk |
| Marion County | $131/wk | $110/wk | $91/wk |
| Marshall County | $131/wk | $110/wk | $91/wk |
| Maury County | $212/wk | $146/wk | $155/wk |
| McMinn County | $131/wk | $110/wk | $91/wk |
| McNairy County | $131/wk | $110/wk | $91/wk |
| Meigs County | $131/wk | $110/wk | $91/wk |
| Monroe County | $131/wk | $110/wk | $91/wk |
| Montgomery County | $212/wk | $146/wk | $155/wk |
| Moore County | $131/wk | $110/wk | $91/wk |
| Morgan County | $131/wk | $110/wk | $91/wk |
| Obion County | $131/wk | $110/wk | $91/wk |
| Overton County | $131/wk | $110/wk | $91/wk |
| Perry County | $131/wk | $110/wk | $91/wk |
| Pickett County | $131/wk | $110/wk | $91/wk |
| Polk County | $131/wk | $110/wk | $91/wk |
| Putnam County | $212/wk | $146/wk | $155/wk |
| Rhea County | $131/wk | $110/wk | $91/wk |
| Roane County | $131/wk | $110/wk | $91/wk |
| Robertson County | $212/wk | $146/wk | $155/wk |
| Rutherford County | $212/wk | $146/wk | $155/wk |
| Scott County | $131/wk | $110/wk | $91/wk |
| Sequatchie County | $131/wk | $110/wk | $91/wk |
| Sevier County | $212/wk | $146/wk | $155/wk |
| Shelby County | $212/wk | $146/wk | $155/wk |
| Smith County | $131/wk | $110/wk | $91/wk |
| Stewart County | $131/wk | $110/wk | $91/wk |
| Sullivan County | $212/wk | $146/wk | $155/wk |
| Sumner County | $212/wk | $146/wk | $155/wk |
| Tipton County | $131/wk | $110/wk | $91/wk |
| Trousdale County | $131/wk | $110/wk | $91/wk |
| Unicoi County | $131/wk | $110/wk | $91/wk |
| Union County | $131/wk | $110/wk | $91/wk |
| Van Buren County | $131/wk | $110/wk | $91/wk |
| Warren County | $131/wk | $110/wk | $91/wk |
| Washington County | $212/wk | $146/wk | $155/wk |
| Wayne County | $131/wk | $110/wk | $91/wk |
| Weakley County | $131/wk | $110/wk | $91/wk |
| White County | $131/wk | $110/wk | $91/wk |
| Williamson County | $212/wk | $146/wk | $155/wk |
| Wilson County | $212/wk | $146/wk | $155/wk |
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). Read the full methodology.
Staffing rules drive these prices
Staff-to-child ratios are the biggest cost driver in childcare: Tennessee requires one adult for every 4 infants at licensed centers. See the full requirements by age group.
Tennessee childcare ratiosCommon questions
How much does childcare cost in Tennessee?
The median price for full-time infant care at Tennessee centers is about $131 per week, roughly $568 per month, and preschool-age care runs about $110 per week. Prices vary a lot by county, so check your county's page for local figures.
Which Tennessee county has the most expensive childcare?
Among counties with published prices, Anderson County has the highest median for center-based infant care at about $212 per week, while Decatur County has the lowest at about $112 per week.
Is center-based or home-based care cheaper?
Home-based (family childcare) programs usually charge less than centers for the same age group: in Tennessee, the median for infant care is about $91 per week home-based versus $131 at centers. Centers typically offer larger programs and more structured staffing, which is part of the price difference.
Where do these numbers come from?
They are county-level medians for full-time care from the federal National Database of Childcare Prices (DOL Women's Bureau), shown for each county's most recent study year. They are a benchmark, not a quote: actual tuition depends on the program, schedule, and age policies, so always confirm rates with local providers.