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Childcare Costs in Whatcom County, WA

FIPS: 53073 · Data year: 2022

$18,868

Center Infant/yr

$14,344

Family Infant/yr

$77,581

Median Income

24.3%

% of Income (Infant)

Annual Childcare Costs by Age Group

Age Group	Center-Based	Family Childcare	Difference
Infant	$18,868	$14,344	+$4,524
Toddler	$15,090	$12,160	+$2,930
Preschool	$15,090	$12,160	+$2,930
School Age	$10,380	$11,328	$-948

Cost Comparison (Center-Based)

Infant $18,868

Toddler $15,090

Preschool $15,090

School Age $10,380

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: $18,868

Median household income: $77,581

Cost as % of income: 24.3%

7% affordability threshold: $5,431/year

Cost History (Center-Based Infant)

Year	Infant	Toddler	Preschool	School Age
2008	$10,344	$8,712	$7,680	$5,412
2009	$11,532	$8,994	$8,148	$5,532
2010	$12,720	$9,276	$8,616	$5,652
2011	$12,534	$9,834	$8,904	$6,102
2012	$12,348	$10,392	$9,192	$6,552
2013	$15,786	$13,398	$11,076	$8,688
2014	$19,224	$16,404	$12,960	$10,824
2015	$18,507	$15,719	$12,622	$10,233
2016	$17,790	$15,033	$12,285	$9,642
2017	$17,073	$14,347	$11,948	$9,051
2018	$16,356	$13,662	$11,610	$8,460
2019	$16,984	$13,848	$12,480	$8,940
2020	$17,612	$14,034	$13,350	$9,420
2021	$18,240	$14,220	$14,220	$9,900
2022	$18,868	$15,090	$15,090	$10,380

More Data for Whatcom County

ZIP Codes Schools Salaries Crime Data Rent Prices

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