Childcare remains one of the most significant financial challenges for families across the United States. The Women’s Bureau recently released the latest update to the National Database of Childcare Prices (NDCP), the most comprehensive federal database of childcare costs at the county level. Spanning from 2008 through 2022, the database sheds light on just how prohibitive childcare expenses are for many families.
Key Findings from the NDCP
The updated data paints a stark picture of the childcare affordability crisis:
High Prices Relative to Income: In nearly every county with available data, childcare prices are exceptionally high relative to family incomes, making paid childcare inaccessible for many.
Significant Income Proportion: Families spend between 8.9% and 16% of their median income on full-day care for one child, with annual prices in 2022 ranging from $6,552 to $15,600.
More Than a Month’s Rent: In many cases, childcare costs exceed a month’s rent, forcing families to allocate a substantial portion of their income to these necessary expenses.
Interactive Maps and County-Level Insights
The NDCP database, available for download on the Women’s Bureau website, offers a wealth of resources to help families, policymakers, and advocates understand the true cost of childcare:
Interactive Maps:
Childcare Prices Map: Displays childcare prices by county.
Childcare Prices as a Share of Family Income Map: Shows how childcare expenses compare to family incomes at the county level.
County-Level Fact Sheets: These detailed fact sheets allow users to compare childcare costs and socioeconomic indicators across counties within a state, offering a clearer picture of how childcare expenses vary by region.
Access the Resources
All resources related to the National Database of Childcare Prices, including the downloadable database, blog post, and interactive tools, are available on the Departmetn of Labor's Women’s Bureau website.
For additional insights, the Department of Labor blog post provides an in-depth analysis of the updated data and its implications for families across the U.S.
Why This Data Matters
The latest update underscores the urgent need for solutions to make childcare more affordable and accessible. As childcare costs continue to outpace income growth in many counties, families are left to make difficult financial choices that can have long-term implications for children’s development and family stability.
This comprehensive database serves as an invaluable resource for policymakers, advocates, and communities working toward meaningful change in childcare affordability.