Special Report

States Where Families Pay the Most for Child Care

SDI Productions / E+ via Getty Images

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many parents with children under the age of 18 – both mothers and fathers – left the workforce. With schools across the country shifting to remote learning, it made more financial sense for many parents to give up their job and stay home with their children rather than pay for child care – especially as child care costs skyrocketed during the pandemic. 

According to the Economic Policy Institute, a nonprofit think tank, a family with two children, age four and eight, is projected to pay an average of $16,659 on child care in 2022. This amount varies across the country, however. In some states child care costs are far lower than the national average, while in others, families are paying thousands more. Here is a look at the countries with the most and least affordable groceries. 

Using data from the EPI’s Family Budget Calculator, 24/7 Wall St. identified the states where families pay the most for child care. States are ranked on estimated child care expenditure in 2022, accounting for likely variations in types of available care between urban and rural areas for two children, age four and eight. 

States with the highest child care costs are mostly spread across the Western and Northeastern U.S., while the lowest-cost states are overwhelmingly concentrated in the South. Here is a look at the best and worst states to raise a family

As is often the case with factors that affect cost of living, child care costs appear to be driven in part by what parents can afford. In nearly every state with lower than average child care costs, median family income is below $80,069,  the amount the typical American family earns. Similarly, in the vast majority of states with higher than average child care costs, the median family income is also higher than average. Here is a look at the income needed to be middle class in each state.

Click here to see the states where families pay the most for child care
Click here to read our detailed methodology

Tiago_Fernandez / iStock via Getty Images

50. Mississippi
> Est. annual child care costs (2 children): $6,215
> Median family income: $58,923 (the lowest)
> Share of population under age 15: 19.6% (12th highest)
> Share of households occupied by families: 66.3% (9th highest)

[in-text-ad]

Kruck20 / iStock via Getty Images

49. Louisiana
> Est. annual child care costs (2 children): $9,718
> Median family income: $65,427 (5th lowest)
> Share of population under age 15: 19.6% (11th highest)
> Share of households occupied by families: 63.7% (20th lowest)

Kruck20 / iStock via Getty Images

48. South Carolina
> Est. annual child care costs (2 children): $9,741
> Median family income: $68,813 (10th lowest)
> Share of population under age 15: 18.0% (16th lowest)
> Share of households occupied by families: 65.3% (17th highest)

Kruck20 / iStock via Getty Images

47. Georgia
> Est. annual child care costs (2 children): $11,399
> Median family income: $74,127 (19th lowest)
> Share of population under age 15: 19.7% (10th highest)
> Share of households occupied by families: 67.0% (7th highest)

[in-text-ad-2]

Kruck20 / iStock via Getty Images

46. Tennessee
> Est. annual child care costs (2 children): $11,647
> Median family income: $68,793 (9th lowest)
> Share of population under age 15: 18.5% (25th lowest)
> Share of households occupied by families: 65.4% (14th highest)

Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images

45. Arkansas
> Est. annual child care costs (2 children): $11,931
> Median family income: $62,067 (3rd lowest)
> Share of population under age 15: 19.4% (15th highest)
> Share of households occupied by families: 65.8% (11th highest)

[in-text-ad]

f11photo / iStock via Getty Images

44. Texas
> Est. annual child care costs (2 children): $12,449
> Median family income: $76,073 (22nd lowest)
> Share of population under age 15: 21.5% (2nd highest)
> Share of households occupied by families: 69.0% (3rd highest)

dangarneau / iStock via Getty Images

43. Iowa
> Est. annual child care costs (2 children): $12,837
> Median family income: $79,186 (25th highest)
> Share of population under age 15: 19.2% (17th highest)
> Share of households occupied by families: 62.9% (9th lowest)

SeanPavonePhoto / iStock via Getty Images

42. Maine
> Est. annual child care costs (2 children): $12,929
> Median family income: $76,192 (23rd lowest)
> Share of population under age 15: 15.3% (2nd lowest)
> Share of households occupied by families: 61.4% (4th lowest)

[in-text-ad-2]

Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images

41. Missouri
> Est. annual child care costs (2 children): $12,936
> Median family income: $72,834 (15th lowest)
> Share of population under age 15: 18.7% (23rd highest)
> Share of households occupied by families: 63.6% (15th lowest)

SeanPavonePhoto / iStock via Getty Images

40. Florida
> Est. annual child care costs (2 children): $12,948
> Median family income: $69,670 (11th lowest)
> Share of population under age 15: 16.4% (6th lowest)
> Share of households occupied by families: 64.5% (24th highest)

[in-text-ad]

peeterv / iStock via Getty Images

39. South Dakota
> Est. annual child care costs (2 children): $13,056
> Median family income: $77,042 (24th lowest)
> Share of population under age 15: 20.6% (5th highest)
> Share of households occupied by families: 62.9% (10th lowest)

Allard1 / iStock via Getty Images

38. Alabama
> Est. annual child care costs (2 children): $13,811
> Median family income: $66,772 (7th lowest)
> Share of population under age 15: 18.5% (25th highest)
> Share of households occupied by families: 65.4% (15th highest)

Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images

37. Kentucky
> Est. annual child care costs (2 children): $13,879
> Median family income: $65,893 (6th lowest)
> Share of population under age 15: 18.7% (22nd highest)
> Share of households occupied by families: 65.2% (20th highest)

[in-text-ad-2]

Kruck20 / iStock via Getty Images

36. North Carolina
> Est. annual child care costs (2 children): $13,940
> Median family income: $70,978 (13th lowest)
> Share of population under age 15: 18.3% (20th lowest)
> Share of households occupied by families: 65.1% (21st highest)

TriggerPhoto / iStock via Getty Images

35. Kansas
> Est. annual child care costs (2 children): $13,976
> Median family income: $77,620 (25th lowest)
> Share of population under age 15: 20.2% (8th highest)
> Share of households occupied by families: 64.6% (23rd highest)

[in-text-ad]

vkbhat / E+ via Getty Images

34. Idaho
> Est. annual child care costs (2 children): $14,012
> Median family income: $70,885 (12th lowest)
> Share of population under age 15: 21.0% (4th highest)
> Share of households occupied by families: 68.0% (6th highest)

Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images

33. Ohio
> Est. annual child care costs (2 children): $14,489
> Median family income: $74,391 (20th lowest)
> Share of population under age 15: 18.3% (21st lowest)
> Share of households occupied by families: 62.6% (7th lowest)

ChrisBoswell / iStock via Getty Images

32. West Virginia
> Est. annual child care costs (2 children): $14,553
> Median family income: $61,707 (2nd lowest)
> Share of population under age 15: 16.7% (7th lowest)
> Share of households occupied by families: 64.1% (24th lowest)

[in-text-ad-2]

Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images

31. New Mexico
> Est. annual child care costs (2 children): $14,800
> Median family income: $62,611 (4th lowest)
> Share of population under age 15: 19.1% (18th highest)
> Share of households occupied by families: 62.7% (8th lowest)

Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images

30. Oklahoma
> Est. annual child care costs (2 children): $14,910
> Median family income: $67,511 (8th lowest)
> Share of population under age 15: 20.2% (7th highest)
> Share of households occupied by families: 65.3% (16th highest)

[in-text-ad]

ChrisBoswell / iStock via Getty Images

29. Delaware
> Est. annual child care costs (2 children): $14,930
> Median family income: $84,825 (17th highest)
> Share of population under age 15: 17.5% (12th lowest)
> Share of households occupied by families: 65.5% (13th highest)

Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images

28. New Hampshire
> Est. annual child care costs (2 children): $15,612
> Median family income: $97,001 (6th highest)
> Share of population under age 15: 15.5% (3rd lowest)
> Share of households occupied by families: 65.2% (18th highest)

DutcherAerials / E+ via Getty Images

27. California
> Est. annual child care costs (2 children): $15,816
> Median family income: $89,798 (12th highest)
> Share of population under age 15: 18.9% (20th highest)
> Share of households occupied by families: 68.6% (5th highest)

[in-text-ad-2]

DenisTangneyJr / E+ via Getty Images

26. Utah
> Est. annual child care costs (2 children): $16,111
> Median family income: $84,590 (18th highest)
> Share of population under age 15: 24.6% (the highest)
> Share of households occupied by families: 74.4% (the highest)

haveseen / iStock via Getty Images

25. Vermont
> Est. annual child care costs (2 children): $16,503
> Median family income: $83,023 (19th highest)
> Share of population under age 15: 15.1% (the lowest)
> Share of households occupied by families: 59.8% (2nd lowest)

[in-text-ad]

peeterv / iStock via Getty Images

24. Montana
> Est. annual child care costs (2 children): $17,025
> Median family income: $72,773 (14th lowest)
> Share of population under age 15: 17.9% (14th lowest)
> Share of households occupied by families: 61.3% (3rd lowest)

photoquest7 / iStock via Getty Images

23. Nevada
> Est. annual child care costs (2 children): $17,051
> Median family income: $74,077 (18th lowest)
> Share of population under age 15: 18.9% (21st highest)
> Share of households occupied by families: 63.7% (19th lowest)

JamesBrey / E+ via Getty Images

22. Wisconsin
> Est. annual child care costs (2 children): $17,092
> Median family income: $80,844 (22nd highest)
> Share of population under age 15: 18.1% (17th lowest)
> Share of households occupied by families: 62.2% (6th lowest)

[in-text-ad-2]

ChrisBoswell / iStock via Getty Images

21. Maryland
> Est. annual child care costs (2 children): $17,251
> Median family income: $105,790 (2nd highest)
> Share of population under age 15: 18.4% (24th lowest)
> Share of households occupied by families: 66.3% (8th highest)

pawel.gaul / E+ via Getty Images

20. Michigan
> Est. annual child care costs (2 children): $17,276
> Median family income: $75,470 (21st lowest)
> Share of population under age 15: 17.8% (13th lowest)
> Share of households occupied by families: 63.5% (14th lowest)

[in-text-ad]

ferrantraite / E+ via Getty Images

19. Virginia
> Est. annual child care costs (2 children): $17,347
> Median family income: $93,284 (7th highest)
> Share of population under age 15: 18.2% (19th lowest)
> Share of households occupied by families: 66.0% (10th highest)

Davel5957 / iStock via Getty Images

18. Arizona
> Est. annual child care costs (2 children): $17,391
> Median family income: $73,456 (17th lowest)
> Share of population under age 15: 18.9% (19th highest)
> Share of households occupied by families: 65.1% (22nd highest)

Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images

17. Indiana
> Est. annual child care costs (2 children): $18,107
> Median family income: $73,265 (16th lowest)
> Share of population under age 15: 19.4% (14th highest)
> Share of households occupied by families: 64.5% (25th highest)

[in-text-ad-2]

SeanPavonePhoto / iStock via Getty Images

16. Connecticut
> Est. annual child care costs (2 children): $18,113
> Median family income: $102,061 (4th highest)
> Share of population under age 15: 16.7% (8th lowest)
> Share of households occupied by families: 65.2% (19th highest)

JaySi / iStock via Getty Images

15. Illinois
> Est. annual child care costs (2 children): $18,131
> Median family income: $86,251 (16th highest)
> Share of population under age 15: 18.5% (24th highest)
> Share of households occupied by families: 63.8% (22nd lowest)

[in-text-ad]

SeanPavonePhoto / iStock via Getty Images

14. Rhode Island
> Est. annual child care costs (2 children): $18,589
> Median family income: $89,330 (13th highest)
> Share of population under age 15: 15.9% (4th lowest)
> Share of households occupied by families: 62.2% (5th lowest)

okimo / iStock via Getty Images

13. Hawaii
> Est. annual child care costs (2 children): $18,852
> Median family income: $97,813 (5th highest)
> Share of population under age 15: 18.0% (15th lowest)
> Share of households occupied by families: 69.3% (2nd highest)

roman_slavik / iStock via Getty Images

12. Washington
> Est. annual child care costs (2 children): $18,876
> Median family income: $92,422 (11th highest)
> Share of population under age 15: 18.4% (23rd lowest)
> Share of households occupied by families: 64.5% (25th lowest)

[in-text-ad-2]

Jacob Boomsma / iStock via Getty Images

11. Nebraska
> Est. annual child care costs (2 children): $18,934
> Median family income: $80,125 (24th highest)
> Share of population under age 15: 20.6% (6th highest)
> Share of households occupied by families: 63.8% (21st lowest)

JamesBrey / iStock via Getty Images

10. Oregon
> Est. annual child care costs (2 children): $19,026
> Median family income: $80,630 (23rd highest)
> Share of population under age 15: 17.2% (10th lowest)
> Share of households occupied by families: 63.0% (12th lowest)

[in-text-ad]

Ultima_Gaina / iStock via Getty Images

9. Pennsylvania
> Est. annual child care costs (2 children): $19,039
> Median family income: $80,996 (21st highest)
> Share of population under age 15: 17.1% (9th lowest)
> Share of households occupied by families: 63.7% (18th lowest)

Kruck20 / iStock via Getty Images

8. Colorado
> Est. annual child care costs (2 children): $19,418
> Median family income: $92,752 (8th highest)
> Share of population under age 15: 18.4% (22nd lowest)
> Share of households occupied by families: 63.6% (16th lowest)

Ultima_Gaina / iStock via Getty Images

7. New Jersey
> Est. annual child care costs (2 children): $20,144
> Median family income: $104,804 (3rd highest)
> Share of population under age 15: 18.1% (18th lowest)
> Share of households occupied by families: 68.7% (4th highest)

[in-text-ad-2]

Jacob Boomsma / iStock via Getty Images

6. North Dakota
> Est. annual child care costs (2 children): $20,541
> Median family income: $86,798 (15th highest)
> Share of population under age 15: 19.9% (9th highest)
> Share of households occupied by families: 59.0% (the lowest)

Davel5957 / E+ via Getty Images

5. Minnesota
> Est. annual child care costs (2 children): $20,635
> Median family income: $92,692 (9th highest)
> Share of population under age 15: 19.3% (16th highest)
> Share of households occupied by families: 63.6% (17th lowest)

[in-text-ad]

DenisTangneyJr / E+ via Getty Images

4. Wyoming
> Est. annual child care costs (2 children): $20,746
> Median family income: $81,290 (20th highest)
> Share of population under age 15: 19.4% (13th highest)
> Share of households occupied by families: 64.0% (23rd lowest)

Jacob Boomsma / iStock via Getty Images

3. Alaska
> Est. annual child care costs (2 children): $22,447
> Median family income: $92,648 (10th highest)
> Share of population under age 15: 21.0% (3rd highest)
> Share of households occupied by families: 65.8% (12th highest)

SeanPavonePhoto / iStock via Getty Images

2. Massachusetts
> Est. annual child care costs (2 children): $26,377
> Median family income: $106,526 (the highest)
> Share of population under age 15: 16.2% (5th lowest)
> Share of households occupied by families: 63.2% (13th lowest)

[in-text-ad-2]

TomasSereda / iStock via Getty Images

1. New York
> Est. annual child care costs (2 children): $31,874
> Median family income: $87,270 (14th highest)
> Share of population under age 15: 17.3% (11th lowest)
> Share of households occupied by families: 63.0% (11th lowest)

Methodology 

To determine the states with the highest child care costs for a family of four, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed data from the Economic Policy Institute’s 2022 Family Budget Calculator.

In the Family Budget Calculator, the EPI estimates the annual child care budget necessary for families to maintain a modest yet adequate standard of living. The budgets are created for 10 family types for U.S. counties and metro areas. To estimate child care costs for a family of four, the EPI assumes families consist of a married couple with one 4-year-old child and one 8-year-old child.

State-level child care cost estimates are aggregated from the county level using five-year estimates of total households from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2020 American Community Survey.

States are ranked based on the EPI’s annual child care cost estimates. Additional information on median family income, the share of the population that is under the age of 15, and the share of households that are occupied by families are from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2020 American Community Survey. Because the Census Bureau did not release one-year estimates for 2020 due to data collection issues caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, all ACS data are five-year estimates.

Take This Retirement Quiz To Get Matched With An Advisor Now (Sponsored)

Are you ready for retirement? Planning for retirement can be overwhelming, that’s why it could be a good idea to speak to a fiduciary financial advisor about your goals today.

Start by taking this retirement quiz right here from SmartAsset that will match you with up to 3 financial advisors that serve your area and beyond in 5 minutes. Smart Asset is now matching over 50,000 people a month.

Click here now to get started.

Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.