How the National Database of Childcare Prices is built
The National Database of Childcare Prices (NDCP) is a public-domain dataset from the U.S. Department of Labor's Women's Bureau — the most comprehensive federal source of county-level childcare prices. It reports median weekly prices by county, year, child age group (infant, toddler, preschool, school-age) and care setting (center-based or family/home-based). It is built from the market-rate surveys states run for the federal Child Care and Development Fund. The newest reference year in the public file is 2018.
Source: U.S. DOL Women's Bureau — National Database of Childcare Prices. Data as of June 2026.
What it covers
- Geography: US counties. We aggregate counties to 49 state/DC medians and publish the largest counties individually.
- Age groups: infant (0–23 mo), toddler (24–35 mo), preschool (3–5 yr), school-age.
- Care settings: center-based (licensed centers) and family childcare (in a provider's home).
- Statistic: the median price (50th percentile) — half of providers charge more, half less.
What it does not cover (limitations)
- Vintage: data ends in 2018; prices have risen since, so figures are a baseline, not current quotes.
- Coverage gaps: not every county/age/type is reported. We omit any missing cell rather than estimate it. Indiana and New Mexico have no price data in the file and are not shown.
- Survey cycles: states are surveyed in different years, so the latest year varies by state.
- Within-area spread: a state or county median hides large local variation.
How we use it
We annualize the median weekly price (× 52 weeks) and compute childcare as a share of median household income. We never inflate the federal numbers. Full details are on our methodology page. The original dataset and its data dictionary are at the DOL Women's Bureau.
Frequently asked questions
What is the National Database of Childcare Prices?
The NDCP is a public-domain dataset published by the U.S. Department of Labor's Women's Bureau. It is the most comprehensive federal source of childcare prices at the county level, giving median weekly prices by county, year, child age group and care setting (center-based or family/home-based).
How recent is the NDCP data?
The county-level price series we use runs through 2018, the newest reference year in the public file. States are surveyed on different cycles, so a given state's latest year can be earlier — we label the year on every page. Childcare prices have risen since, so treat these as a baseline.
Where do the prices come from?
They are built from state market-rate surveys that states conduct for the federal Child Care and Development Fund, harmonized to a common county-level format. Prices are medians, so half of providers charge more and half less.
Last updated: 2026-06-20