For most families, in-home (family) daycare is the cheaper option. Nationally, median family infant care is about $6,240 a year versus $7,987 for a center — a saving of roughly $1,700 a year.
Estimate — verify with the source. 2018 medians from the federal National Database of Childcare Prices.
National median: center vs in-home
| Age group | Center-based / yr | In-home (family) / yr |
|---|---|---|
| Infant (0–23 mo) | $7,987 | $6,240 |
| Preschool (3–5 yr) | $6,500 | $5,720 |
The gap depends on your state
The center premium is far from uniform. In high-cost states it’s large; elsewhere it narrows.
| State | Center infant / yr | Family infant / yr | Center premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $15,860 | $13,000 | +$2,860 |
| California | $15,058 | $9,566 | +$5,492 |
| New York | $11,429 | $8,295 | +$3,134 |
| Texas | $6,942 | $6,126 | +$816 |
| Mississippi | $3,526 | $3,054 | +$472 |
See the full center-vs-family price gap ranking for every state.
Center vs in-home: beyond price
| Feature | Center-based | In-home (family) |
|---|---|---|
| Setting | Dedicated facility | Provider’s home |
| Group size | Larger, by age | Smaller, mixed-age |
| Hours | Longer, backup staff | One provider |
| Cost | Higher | Lower |
The deeper trade-offs are in our center vs family childcare guide. To compare both for your state and child’s age, use the cost calculator.