During the COVID-19 pandemic, many parents with children under the age of 18 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, and in many major metropolitan areas, child care costs are far higher.
Using data from the EPI’s Family Budget Calculator, 24/7 Wall St. identified the 50 metro areas where families pay the most for child care. Metro areas are ranked on estimated child care expenditure in 2022 for two children, age four and eight.
Among the metro areas on this list, estimated average child care costs range from $19,748 up to nearly $36,000. The largest share of metro areas on this list are in the Northeast. 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 the majority of metro areas on this list, the median family income is higher than the $80,069 the typical American family earns annually. Here is a look at the income needed to be middle class in each state.
Click here to see the metros where families pay the most for child care
Click here to read our detailed methodology
50. Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN
> Est. annual child care costs (2 children): $19,748
> Median family income: $73,007 – 186th lowest of 376 metros
> Share of population under age 15: 17.3% – 111th lowest of 376 metros
> Share of households occupied by families: 58.4% – 27th lowest of 376 metros
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49. Fort Collins, CO
> Est. annual child care costs (2 children): $19,760
> Median family income: $96,221 – 31st highest of 376 metros
> Share of population under age 15: 16.1% – 60th lowest of 376 metros
> Share of households occupied by families: 62.5% – 105th lowest of 376 metros
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48. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
> Est. annual child care costs (2 children): $19,800
> Median family income: $145,548 – the highest of 376 metros
> Share of population under age 15: 18.4% – 184th highest of 376 metros
> Share of households occupied by families: 71.7% – 28th highest of 376 metros
47. Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI
> Est. annual child care costs (2 children): $19,852
> Median family income: $92,668 – 45th highest of 376 metros
> Share of population under age 15: 18.8% – 160th highest of 376 metros
> Share of households occupied by families: 64.5% – 187th lowest of 376 metros
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46. Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT
> Est. annual child care costs (2 children): $19,940
> Median family income: $120,156 – 4th highest of 376 metros
> Share of population under age 15: 18.3% – 180th lowest of 376 metros
> Share of households occupied by families: 69.4% – 47th highest of 376 metros
45. Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD
> Est. annual child care costs (2 children): $20,161
> Median family income: $95,369 – 36th highest of 376 metros
> Share of population under age 15: 17.9% – 153rd lowest of 376 metros
> Share of households occupied by families: 64.6% – 187th highest of 376 metros
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44. Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ
> Est. annual child care costs (2 children): $20,182
> Median family income: $84,676 – 82nd highest of 376 metros
> Share of population under age 15: 17.2% – 104th lowest of 376 metros
> Share of households occupied by families: 67.2% – 92nd highest of 376 metros
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43. Omaha-Council Bluffs, NE-IA
> Est. annual child care costs (2 children): $20,221
> Median family income: $87,733 – 64th highest of 376 metros
> Share of population under age 15: 21.4% – 38th highest of 376 metros
> Share of households occupied by families: 64.6% – 188th highest of 376 metros
42. Lincoln, NE
> Est. annual child care costs (2 children): $20,264
> Median family income: $82,381 – 98th highest of 376 metros
> Share of population under age 15: 19.1% – 137th highest of 376 metros
> Share of households occupied by families: 60.5% – 50th lowest of 376 metros
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41. Madison, WI
> Est. annual child care costs (2 children): $20,408
> Median family income: $97,334 – 28th highest of 376 metros
> Share of population under age 15: 17.2% – 102nd lowest of 376 metros
> Share of households occupied by families: 57.3% – 14th lowest of 376 metros
40. Burlington-South Burlington, VT
> Est. annual child care costs (2 children): $20,476
> Median family income: $95,011 – 37th highest of 376 metros
> Share of population under age 15: 15.3% – 36th lowest of 376 metros
> Share of households occupied by families: 59.2% – 33rd lowest of 376 metros
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39. Casper, WY
> Est. annual child care costs (2 children): $20,486
> Median family income: $78,926 – 135th highest of 376 metros
> Share of population under age 15: 20.0% – 86th highest of 376 metros
> Share of households occupied by families: 62.7% – 109th lowest of 376 metros
38. Providence-Warwick, RI-MA
> Est. annual child care costs (2 children): $20,580
> Median family income: $89,555 – 58th highest of 376 metros
> Share of population under age 15: 16.3% – 66th lowest of 376 metros
> Share of households occupied by families: 63.4% – 135th lowest of 376 metros
37. Ann Arbor, MI
> Est. annual child care costs (2 children): $20,601
> Median family income: $105,224 – 12th highest of 376 metros
> Share of population under age 15: 15.3% – 37th lowest of 376 metros
> Share of households occupied by families: 56.8% – 13th lowest of 376 metros
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36. Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN
> Est. annual child care costs (2 children): $20,630
> Median family income: $80,981 – 113th highest of 376 metros
> Share of population under age 15: 20.5% – 65th highest of 376 metros
> Share of households occupied by families: 63.8% – 154th lowest of 376 metros
35. East Stroudsburg, PA
> Est. annual child care costs (2 children): $20,679
> Median family income: $79,538 – 126th highest of 376 metros
> Share of population under age 15: 15.5% – 45th lowest of 376 metros
> Share of households occupied by families: 71.0% – 35th highest of 376 metros
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34. Bloomington, IN
> Est. annual child care costs (2 children): $20,693
> Median family income: $74,499 – 174th highest of 376 metros
> Share of population under age 15: 13.5% – 12th lowest of 376 metros
> Share of households occupied by families: 54.2% – 6th lowest of 376 metros
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33. Cheyenne, WY
> Est. annual child care costs (2 children): $20,712
> Median family income: $82,325 – 99th highest of 376 metros
> Share of population under age 15: 19.3% – 124th highest of 376 metros
> Share of households occupied by families: 65.0% – 172nd highest of 376 metros
32. Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA
> Est. annual child care costs (2 children): $20,716
> Median family income: $94,727 – 39th highest of 376 metros
> Share of population under age 15: 17.7% – 136th lowest of 376 metros
> Share of households occupied by families: 63.2% – 123rd lowest of 376 metros
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31. Mankato, MN
> Est. annual child care costs (2 children): $20,718
> Median family income: $83,590 – 90th highest of 376 metros
> Share of population under age 15: 17.2% – 106th lowest of 376 metros
> Share of households occupied by families: 60.9% – 55th lowest of 376 metros
30. Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO
> Est. annual child care costs (2 children): $21,167
> Median family income: $103,157 – 17th highest of 376 metros
> Share of population under age 15: 18.6% – 168th highest of 376 metros
> Share of households occupied by families: 62.6% – 107th lowest of 376 metros
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29. Rochester, MN
> Est. annual child care costs (2 children): $21,235
> Median family income: $94,698 – 40th highest of 376 metros
> Share of population under age 15: 20.4% – 71st highest of 376 metros
> Share of households occupied by families: 65.9% – 141st highest of 376 metros
28. San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA
> Est. annual child care costs (2 children): $21,579
> Median family income: $131,087 – 2nd highest of 376 metros
> Share of population under age 15: 16.4% – 73rd lowest of 376 metros
> Share of households occupied by families: 63.9% – 165th lowest of 376 metros
27. Pittsfield, MA
> Est. annual child care costs (2 children): $21,659
> Median family income: $82,207 – 101st highest of 376 metros
> Share of population under age 15: 13.6% – 13th lowest of 376 metros
> Share of households occupied by families: 58.0% – 23rd lowest of 376 metros
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26. Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
> Est. annual child care costs (2 children): $21,736
> Median family income: $109,109 – 9th highest of 376 metros
> Share of population under age 15: 18.0% – 158th lowest of 376 metros
> Share of households occupied by families: 63.0% – 117th lowest of 376 metros
25. Boulder, CO
> Est. annual child care costs (2 children): $21,904
> Median family income: $118,307 – 5th highest of 376 metros
> Share of population under age 15: 15.4% – 41st lowest of 376 metros
> Share of households occupied by families: 57.5% – 18th lowest of 376 metros
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24. Springfield, MA
> Est. annual child care costs (2 children): $22,247
> Median family income: $79,907 – 122nd highest of 376 metros (tied)
> Share of population under age 15: 15.9% – 50th lowest of 376 metros
> Share of households occupied by families: 62.4% – 100th lowest of 376 metros
23. Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
> Est. annual child care costs (2 children): $22,422
> Median family income: $126,840 – 3rd highest of 376 metros
> Share of population under age 15: 19.2% – 131st highest of 376 metros
> Share of households occupied by families: 65.4% – 158th highest of 376 metros
22. Worcester, MA-CT
> Est. annual child care costs (2 children): $22,941
> Median family income: $96,860 – 30th highest of 376 metros
> Share of population under age 15: 17.1% – 101st lowest of 376 metros
> Share of households occupied by families: 65.4% – 157th highest of 376 metros
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21. Anchorage, AK
> Est. annual child care costs (2 children): $23,882
> Median family income: $98,403 – 25th highest of 376 metros
> Share of population under age 15: 20.9% – 49th highest of 376 metros
> Share of households occupied by families: 66.4% – 121st highest of 376 metros
20. Utica-Rome, NY
> Est. annual child care costs (2 children): $23,900
> Median family income: $75,037 – 172nd highest of 376 metros
> Share of population under age 15: 17.4% – 116th lowest of 376 metros
> Share of households occupied by families: 63.1% – 120th lowest of 376 metros
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19. Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI
> Est. annual child care costs (2 children): $24,042
> Median family income: $103,977 – 14th highest of 376 metros
> Share of population under age 15: 19.7% – 103rd highest of 376 metros
> Share of households occupied by families: 64.0% – 168th lowest of 376 metros
18. Fairbanks, AK
> Est. annual child care costs (2 children): $24,686
> Median family income: $89,208 – 61st highest of 376 metros
> Share of population under age 15: 20.8% – 53rd highest of 376 metros
> Share of households occupied by families: 65.9% – 138th highest of 376 metros
17. Binghamton, NY
> Est. annual child care costs (2 children): $24,729
> Median family income: $71,132 – 156th lowest of 376 metros
> Share of population under age 15: 16.1% – 59th lowest of 376 metros
> Share of households occupied by families: 60.1% – 44th lowest of 376 metros
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16. Syracuse, NY
> Est. annual child care costs (2 children): $24,927
> Median family income: $79,766 – 125th highest of 376 metros
> Share of population under age 15: 17.3% – 108th lowest of 376 metros
> Share of households occupied by families: 61.6% – 77th lowest of 376 metros
15. Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY
> Est. annual child care costs (2 children): $25,016
> Median family income: $79,486 – 128th highest of 376 metros
> Share of population under age 15: 16.6% – 79th lowest of 376 metros
> Share of households occupied by families: 58.7% – 30th lowest of 376 metros
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14. Barnstable Town, MA
> Est. annual child care costs (2 children): $25,122
> Median family income: $99,410 – 23rd highest of 376 metros
> Share of population under age 15: 12.1% – 4th lowest of 376 metros
> Share of households occupied by families: 62.2% – 91st lowest of 376 metros
13. Elmira, NY
> Est. annual child care costs (2 children): $25,257
> Median family income: $70,617 – 147th lowest of 376 metros
> Share of population under age 15: 17.7% – 138th lowest of 376 metros
> Share of households occupied by families: 61.0% – 58th lowest of 376 metros
12. Rochester, NY
> Est. annual child care costs (2 children): $25,692
> Median family income: $80,423 – 120th highest of 376 metros
> Share of population under age 15: 16.9% – 92nd lowest of 376 metros
> Share of households occupied by families: 61.4% – 69th lowest of 376 metros
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11. Grand Forks, ND-MN
> Est. annual child care costs (2 children): $25,798
> Median family income: $82,257 – 100th highest of 376 metros
> Share of population under age 15: 18.7% – 163rd highest of 376 metros
> Share of households occupied by families: 53.8% – 5th lowest of 376 metros
10. Glens Falls, NY
> Est. annual child care costs (2 children): $25,954
> Median family income: $77,435 – 147th highest of 376 metros
> Share of population under age 15: 15.1% – 30th lowest of 376 metros
> Share of households occupied by families: 61.4% – 68th lowest of 376 metros
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9. Fargo, ND-MN
> Est. annual child care costs (2 children): $26,076
> Median family income: $90,450 – 52nd highest of 376 metros
> Share of population under age 15: 19.7% – 102nd highest of 376 metros
> Share of households occupied by families: 57.3% – 16th lowest of 376 metros
8. Watertown-Fort Drum, NY
> Est. annual child care costs (2 children): $26,844
> Median family income: $66,711 – 99th lowest of 376 metros
> Share of population under age 15: 20.6% – 57th highest of 376 metros
> Share of households occupied by families: 66.0% – 137th highest of 376 metros
7. Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY
> Est. annual child care costs (2 children): $26,901
> Median family income: $95,438 – 34th highest of 376 metros (tied)
> Share of population under age 15: 16.1% – 57th lowest of 376 metros
> Share of households occupied by families: 59.6% – 36th lowest of 376 metros
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6. Bismarck, ND
> Est. annual child care costs (2 children): $28,206
> Median family income: $93,359 – 42nd highest of 376 metros
> Share of population under age 15: 19.6% – 108th highest of 376 metros
> Share of households occupied by families: 64.0% – 169th lowest of 376 metros
5. Ithaca, NY
> Est. annual child care costs (2 children): $28,613
> Median family income: $87,977 – 63rd highest of 376 metros
> Share of population under age 15: 12.0% – 3rd lowest of 376 metros
> Share of households occupied by families: 52.5% – the lowest of 376 metros
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4. Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH
> Est. annual child care costs (2 children): $29,046
> Median family income: $116,181 – 6th highest of 376 metros
> Share of population under age 15: 16.2% – 64th lowest of 376 metros
> Share of households occupied by families: 63.3% – 129th lowest of 376 metros
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3. Kingston, NY
> Est. annual child care costs (2 children): $29,086
> Median family income: $87,034 – 66th highest of 376 metros
> Share of population under age 15: 14.4% – 19th lowest of 376 metros
> Share of households occupied by families: 60.3% – 45th lowest of 376 metros
2. Poughkeepsie-Newburgh-Middletown, NY
> Est. annual child care costs (2 children): $30,529
> Median family income: $100,123 – 22nd highest of 376 metros
> Share of population under age 15: 18.4% – 181st highest of 376 metros
> Share of households occupied by families: 68.1% – 69th highest of 376 metros
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1. New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
> Est. annual child care costs (2 children): $35,909
> Median family income: $99,148 – 24th highest of 376 metros
> Share of population under age 15: 17.9% – 149th lowest of 376 metros
> Share of households occupied by families: 65.7% – 148th highest of 376 metros
Methodology
To determine the metro areas 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 school-age child.
We used the 384 metropolitan statistical areas as delineated by the United States Office of Management and Budget and used by the Census Bureau as our definition of metros.
Metro areas 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 didn’t release one-year estimates for 2020 due to data collection issues caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, all ACS data are five-year estimates.
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