The U.S. Department of Labor has released an update to the National Database of Childcare Prices, revealing that child care costs can surpass monthly rent expenses in many U.S. counties. The data highlights the financial strain on families with young children, who are required to allocate a significant portion of their income to these costs.

This database, supported by the department's Women's Bureau, provides county-level median prices for both center- and home-based childcare providers for children aged 0 to 12 years. It spans data from 2008 to 2022 across 48 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, establishing itself as the most comprehensive public federal resource for county-level childcare pricing.

The recent update includes prices from 2019 to 2022 and encompasses an analysis of childcare prices in 2,512 U.S. counties. "The fact that the median cost of center-based infant care is more than the median cost of rent should be of urgent concern," stated Women's Bureau Director Wendy Chun-Hoon. "Families are struggling and women are disproportionately impacted. We know interventions like the American Rescue Plan have helped, but more federal investments are needed to ensure child care is accessible and affordable for all."

Nationally, the NDCP indicates that families spend between 8.9 percent and 16 percent of their median income on full-day care for one child. In 2022, annual childcare costs ranged from $6,552 to $15,600. Some counties where center-based infant care requires a higher share of median family income include Stearns County in Minnesota; Bronx County in New York; Piute County in Utah; Essex County in Vermont; Grays Harbor and Wahkiakum counties in Washington; and Guanica County in Puerto Rico.

For further information on this topic, individuals are encouraged to explore the NDCP website.