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Childcare Costs in Watauga County, NC

FIPS: 37189 · Data year: 2022

$9,380

Center Infant/yr

$8,235

Family Infant/yr

$50,034

Median Income

18.7%

% of Income (Infant)

Annual Childcare Costs by Age Group

Age Group	Center-Based	Family Childcare	Difference
Infant	$9,380	$8,235	+$1,145
Toddler	$7,799	$6,432	+$1,367
Preschool	$8,400	$8,059	+$341
School Age	$6,481	$7,428	$-947

Cost Comparison (Center-Based)

Infant $9,380

Toddler $7,799

Preschool $8,400

School Age $6,481

Affordability Context

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services considers childcare affordable when it costs no more than 7% of a family's income.

Center infant cost: $9,380

Median household income: $50,034

Cost as % of income: 18.7%

7% affordability threshold: $3,502/year

Cost History (Center-Based Infant)

Year	Infant	Toddler	Preschool	School Age
2008	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
2009	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
2010	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
2011	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
2012	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
2013	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
2014	$10,992	$10,062	$9,174	$7,078
2015	$10,259	$9,496	$8,981	$6,929
2016	$9,871	$8,930	$8,787	$6,780
2017	$9,484	$8,365	$8,594	$6,630
2018	$9,096	$7,799	$8,400	$6,481
2019	$8,708	$7,234	$8,207	$6,332
2020	$8,321	$6,668	$8,013	$6,182
2021	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
2022	$9,380	$7,799	$8,400	$6,481

More Data for Watauga County

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Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Women's Bureau — National Database of Childcare Prices (NDCP). Costs are annual estimates based on weekly median prices.