Study releases list of most & least expensive states for child care. See where NC falls

Chyna Blackmon
·3 min read

A new report reveals that North Carolina is one of the most expensive states in the country for families paying for child care.

GoBankingRates, a personal finance website, released a report breaking down the cost of child care in each state, along with which ones are the most and least affordable based on data from ChildCareAware’s Child Care Data Center.

According to the study, North Carolina is among one of the top 10 most expensive states in the U.S. for child care, with 14% of a family’s income needed to cover the costs.

Child care costs in NC

  • Median family income: $74,129

  • Center-based child care costs: $10,450

  • Family child care costs: $9,455

  • Percent of income needed for center-based child care: 14.10%

“The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services defines “affordable” as 7% of a person’s income,” the report says. “Using that criteria, not a single one of America’s 50 states offers its residents affordable child care.”

Here’s a look at the least and most affordable states for child care, and how North Carolina compares:

Least affordable states for child care

  • Michigan: $12,348 for center-based child care and $8,625 for family child care

  • Nevada: $10,294 for center-based child care and $8,708 for family child care

  • Massachusetts: $20,045 for center-based child care and $13,465 for family child care

  • New York: $14,491 for center-based child care and $10,071 for family child care

  • Rhode Island: $12,913 for center-based child care and $10,963 for family child care

  • Washington: $15,296 for center-based child care and $11,652 for family child care

  • North Carolina: $10,450 for center-based child care and $9,455 for family child care

  • New Jersey: $14,993 for center-based child care (Note: study did not include estimated cost for family child care costs)

  • California: $14,776 for center-based child care and $11,347 for family child care

  • New Mexico: $9,243 for center-based child care and $8,101 for family child care

Most affordable states for child care

  • South Dakota: $7,176 for center-based child care and $5,429 for family child care

  • North Dakota: $9,159 for center-based child care and $7,802 for family child care

  • New Hampshire: $12,440 for center-based child care and $9,559 for family child care

  • Utah: $9,560 for center-based child care and $7,840 for family child care

  • Maryland: $13,389 for center-based child care and $9,606 for family child care

  • Missouri: $8,939 for center-based child care and $5,646 for family child care

  • Mississippi: $5,768 for center-based child care and $4,182 for family child care

  • Wyoming: $9,120 for center-based child care and $8,347 for family child care

  • Kentucky: $7,330 for center-based child care and $6,271 for family child care

  • Georgia: $8,311 for center-based child care and $6,803 for family child care

You can find the full report on child care costs across the U.S. online at gobankingrates.com.