Virginia childcare costs.
Median weekly prices for full-time care across 134 Virginia counties, from the federal National Database of Childcare Prices. Infant care at Virginia centers runs about $191 per week at the median, above the national median of $173.
Statewide medians, per child
| Age group | Center, weekly | Center, monthly | Home-based, weekly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Infant | $191 | $828 | $158 |
| Toddler | $147 | $637 | $131 |
| Preschool | $141 | $611 | $131 |
| School-age | $142 | $615 | $129 |
Medians across Virginia counties with published prices, most recent study year per county (mostly 2022).
Prices by county
| County | Infant, center | Preschool, center | Infant, home-based |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accomack County | $190/wk | $121/wk | $123/wk |
| Albemarle County | $269/wk | $223/wk | $152/wk |
| Alexandria City | $453/wk | $424/wk | $300/wk |
| Alleghany County | $159/wk | $119/wk | $121/wk |
| Amelia County | $160/wk | $113/wk | $164/wk |
| Amherst County | $149/wk | $99/wk | $144/wk |
| Appomattox County | $143/wk | $106/wk | $145/wk |
| Arlington County | $559/wk | $496/wk | $385/wk |
| Augusta County | $195/wk | $144/wk | $155/wk |
| Bath County | $178/wk | $160/wk | $147/wk |
| Bedford City | $101/wk | $93/wk | $61/wk |
| Bedford County | $196/wk | $115/wk | $126/wk |
| Bland County | $142/wk | $113/wk | $131/wk |
| Botetourt County | $173/wk | $141/wk | $131/wk |
| Bristol City | $129/wk | $105/wk | $93/wk |
| Brunswick County | $147/wk | $104/wk | $151/wk |
| Buchanan County | $119/wk | $100/wk | $93/wk |
| Buckingham County | $134/wk | $100/wk | $116/wk |
| Buena Vista City | $170/wk | $140/wk | $116/wk |
| Campbell County | $139/wk | $110/wk | $126/wk |
| Caroline County | $234/wk | $152/wk | $177/wk |
| Carroll County | $119/wk | $100/wk | $93/wk |
| Charles City County | $193/wk | $135/wk | $163/wk |
| Charlotte County | $150/wk | $105/wk | $153/wk |
| Charlottesville City | $274/wk | $229/wk | $157/wk |
| Chesapeake City | $237/wk | $180/wk | $177/wk |
| Chesterfield County | $279/wk | $212/wk | $161/wk |
| Clarke County | $223/wk | $174/wk | $169/wk |
| Colonial Heights City | $303/wk | $198/wk | $172/wk |
| Covington City | $144/wk | $115/wk | $93/wk |
| Craig County | $154/wk | $115/wk | $116/wk |
| Culpeper County | $217/wk | $159/wk | $184/wk |
| Cumberland County | $150/wk | $105/wk | $153/wk |
| Danville City | $139/wk | $120/wk | $93/wk |
| Dickenson County | $119/wk | $100/wk | $93/wk |
| Dinwiddie County | $195/wk | $129/wk | $155/wk |
| Emporia City | $193/wk | $135/wk | $163/wk |
| Essex County | $196/wk | $137/wk | $166/wk |
| Fairfax City | $345/wk | $307/wk | $260/wk |
| Fairfax County | $345/wk | $307/wk | $260/wk |
| Falls Church City | $429/wk | $312/wk | $287/wk |
| Fauquier County | $276/wk | $156/wk | $208/wk |
| Floyd County | $173/wk | $130/wk | $131/wk |
| Fluvanna County | $195/wk | $139/wk | $149/wk |
| Franklin City | $204/wk | $163/wk | $164/wk |
| Franklin County | $173/wk | $130/wk | $190/wk |
| Frederick County | $217/wk | $149/wk | $166/wk |
| Fredericksburg City | $235/wk | $173/wk | $184/wk |
| Galax City | $119/wk | $115/wk | $93/wk |
| Giles County | $173/wk | $130/wk | $131/wk |
| Gloucester County | $210/wk | $180/wk | $177/wk |
| Goochland County | $294/wk | $204/wk | $200/wk |
| Grayson County | $119/wk | $100/wk | $93/wk |
| Greene County | $172/wk | $139/wk | $144/wk |
| Greensville County | $175/wk | $130/wk | $126/wk |
| Halifax County | $134/wk | $100/wk | $116/wk |
| Hampton City | $216/wk | $151/wk | $175/wk |
| Hanover County | $243/wk | $192/wk | $168/wk |
| Harrisonburg City | $188/wk | $141/wk | $197/wk |
| Henrico County | $263/wk | $187/wk | $178/wk |
| Henry County | $129/wk | $95/wk | $93/wk |
| Highland County | $191/wk | $158/wk | $164/wk |
| Hopewell City | $210/wk | $147/wk | $177/wk |
| Isle of Wight County | $189/wk | $139/wk | $144/wk |
| James City County | $227/wk | $188/wk | $168/wk |
| King and Queen County | $210/wk | $147/wk | $177/wk |
| King George County | $188/wk | $168/wk | $180/wk |
| King William County | $183/wk | $141/wk | $150/wk |
| Lancaster County | $210/wk | $147/wk | $177/wk |
| Lee County | $119/wk | $100/wk | $93/wk |
| Lexington City | $189/wk | $139/wk | $144/wk |
| Loudoun County | $366/wk | $335/wk | $281/wk |
| Louisa County | $191/wk | $158/wk | $164/wk |
| Lunenburg County | $134/wk | $100/wk | $116/wk |
| Lynchburg City | $155/wk | $110/wk | $126/wk |
| Madison County | $253/wk | $186/wk | $209/wk |
| Manassas City | $258/wk | $239/wk | $260/wk |
| Manassas Park City | $418/wk | $307/wk | $287/wk |
| Martinsville City | $129/wk | $95/wk | $93/wk |
| Mathews County | $175/wk | $135/wk | $142/wk |
| Mecklenburg County | $160/wk | $107/wk | $164/wk |
| Middlesex County | $210/wk | $147/wk | $177/wk |
| Montgomery County | $186/wk | $170/wk | $126/wk |
| Nelson County | $185/wk | $158/wk | $164/wk |
| New Kent County | $183/wk | $157/wk | $152/wk |
| Newport News City | $227/wk | $151/wk | $182/wk |
| Norfolk City | $247/wk | $175/wk | $196/wk |
| Northampton County | $190/wk | $152/wk | $123/wk |
| Northumberland County | $210/wk | $147/wk | $177/wk |
| Norton City | $119/wk | $120/wk | $93/wk |
| Nottoway County | $134/wk | $100/wk | $116/wk |
| Orange County | $235/wk | $159/wk | $172/wk |
| Page County | $191/wk | $158/wk | $164/wk |
| Patrick County | $159/wk | $119/wk | $121/wk |
| Petersburg City | $173/wk | $118/wk | $209/wk |
| Pittsylvania County | $154/wk | $101/wk | $116/wk |
| Poquoson City | $235/wk | $169/wk | $195/wk |
| Portsmouth City | $254/wk | $150/wk | $179/wk |
| Powhatan County | $208/wk | $168/wk | $180/wk |
| Prince Edward County | $149/wk | $109/wk | $144/wk |
| Prince George County | $195/wk | $129/wk | $155/wk |
| Prince William County | $312/wk | $267/wk | $224/wk |
| Pulaski County | $173/wk | $130/wk | $131/wk |
| Radford City | $144/wk | $115/wk | $93/wk |
| Rappahannock County | $244/wk | $213/wk | $189/wk |
| Richmond City | $308/wk | $186/wk | $177/wk |
| Richmond County | $195/wk | $129/wk | $155/wk |
| Roanoke City | $233/wk | $150/wk | $163/wk |
| Roanoke County | $253/wk | $169/wk | $177/wk |
| Rockbridge County | $189/wk | $139/wk | $144/wk |
| Rockingham County | $195/wk | $139/wk | $195/wk |
| Russell County | $119/wk | $100/wk | $93/wk |
| Salem City | $233/wk | $156/wk | $163/wk |
| Scott County | $119/wk | $100/wk | $93/wk |
| Shenandoah County | $154/wk | $121/wk | $145/wk |
| Smyth County | $130/wk | $104/wk | $121/wk |
| Southampton County | $184/wk | $148/wk | $147/wk |
| Spotsylvania County | $213/wk | $194/wk | $180/wk |
| Stafford County | $223/wk | $215/wk | $208/wk |
| Staunton City | $210/wk | $163/wk | $177/wk |
| Suffolk City | $189/wk | $164/wk | $188/wk |
| Surry County | $210/wk | $147/wk | $177/wk |
| Sussex County | $195/wk | $129/wk | $155/wk |
| Tazewell County | $119/wk | $90/wk | $93/wk |
| Virginia Beach City | $237/wk | $190/wk | $161/wk |
| Warren County | $172/wk | $129/wk | $144/wk |
| Washington County | $132/wk | $109/wk | $115/wk |
| Waynesboro City | $196/wk | $152/wk | $166/wk |
| Westmoreland County | $210/wk | $147/wk | $177/wk |
| Williamsburg City | $213/wk | $159/wk | $176/wk |
| Winchester City | $216/wk | $156/wk | $175/wk |
| Wise County | $119/wk | $120/wk | $93/wk |
| Wythe County | $132/wk | $105/wk | $123/wk |
| York County | $211/wk | $170/wk | $158/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: Virginia requires one adult for every 4 infants at licensed centers. See the full requirements by age group.
Virginia childcare ratiosCommon questions
How much does childcare cost in Virginia?
The median price for full-time infant care at Virginia centers is about $191 per week, roughly $828 per month, and preschool-age care runs about $141 per week. Prices vary a lot by county, so check your county's page for local figures.
Which Virginia county has the most expensive childcare?
Among counties with published prices, Arlington County has the highest median for center-based infant care at about $559 per week, while Bedford City has the lowest at about $101 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 Virginia, the median for infant care is about $158 per week home-based versus $191 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.