The federal yardstick for affordable childcare is 7% of household income. By that measure, almost nowhere in America is affordable — median center-based infant care alone takes from about 8% to 23% of median household income depending on the state.
Estimate — verify with the source. Costs are 2018-era medians from the federal National Database of Childcare Prices; income is ACS median household income.
Where infant care eats the most income
| State | Infant care / yr | % of median income |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $18,000 | 22.9% |
| Alaska | $17,484 | 22.8% |
| District of Columbia | $15,786 | 22.3% |
| Rhode Island | $14,073 | 22.2% |
| California | $15,058 | 20.6% |
The full list is on the childcare burden by income ranking.
The most affordable, relatively
Even the cheapest states barely meet the 7% line. Mississippi comes closest at about 7.9% of median income for infant care; Georgia, Arkansas and South Dakota sit near 9–11%.
Why the benchmark matters
The 7% standard underpins federal childcare-subsidy policy. Most families pay well past it — and with more than one child in care, total cost can reach 20–40% of income. That gap is the core affordability problem in US childcare.
Check your own situation with the cost calculator, which shows childcare as a share of the income you enter, or look up your state directly.