Baby Money Report · 2027 edition
Baby Money Report 2027: infant child care cost vs. income in every state
Full-time infant care at a child care center costs 25.1% of the typical household's income in Massachusetts, the highest share in the U.S., followed by Maryland (24.6%) and Hawaii, DC, New York, Illinois and Nebraska (about 24% each). In the middle state it takes about 19%, or 10 weeks of pay. South Dakota is lowest at 11.2%.
How much of a typical income does infant care take in your state?
Infant child care cost as a share of income, ranked
| Rank | State | Center infant care, per year | Median household income | Share of income | Weeks of pay | Home-based care, share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | $26,343 | $104,828 | 25.1% | 13.1 | 16.7% |
| 2 | Maryland | $25,321 | $102,905 | 24.6% | 12.8 | 15.5% |
| 3 | Hawaii | $24,115 | $100,745 | 23.9% | 12.4 | 11.5% |
| 4 | District of Columbia | $26,193 | $109,707 | 23.9% | 12.4 | 19.5% |
| 5 | New York | $20,439 | $85,820 | 23.8% | 12.4 | 19.1% |
| 6 | Illinois | $19,807 | $83,211 | 23.8% | 12.4 | 14.8% |
| 7 | Nebraska | $18,147 | $76,376 | 23.8% | 12.4 | 17.5% |
| 8 | Minnesota | $20,421 | $87,117 | 23.4% | 12.2 | 11.3% |
| 9 | Wisconsin | $17,963 | $77,488 | 23.2% | 12.1 | 15.9% |
| 10 | Indiana | $16,478 | $71,959 | 22.9% | 11.9 | 13.2% |
| 11 | Oregon | $19,500 | $85,220 | 22.9% | 11.9 | 18.5% |
| 12 | Vermont | $18,710 | $82,730 | 22.6% | 11.8 | 15.0% |
| 13 | California* | $22,628 | $100,149 | 22.6% | 11.7 | 19.0% |
| 14 | Rhode Island* | $18,486 | $83,504 | 22.1% | 11.5 | 17.1% |
| 15 | Colorado | $20,978 | $97,113 | 21.6% | 11.2 | 14.1% |
| 16 | Washington | $21,348 | $99,389 | 21.5% | 11.2 | 18.1% |
| 17 | Maine* | $15,730 | $76,442 | 20.6% | 10.7 | 15.5% |
| 18 | Kansas | $15,156 | $75,514 | 20.1% | 10.4 | 10.1% |
| 19 | Montana | $15,080 | $75,340 | 20.0% | 10.4 | 15.5% |
| 20 | Kentucky | $12,740 | $64,526 | 19.7% | 10.3 | 15.3% |
| 21 | Arizona | $15,964 | $81,486 | 19.6% | 10.2 | 13.4% |
| 22 | New Jersey* | $20,213 | $104,294 | 19.4% | 10.1 | 12.0% |
| 23 | Connecticut | $18,492 | $96,049 | 19.3% | 10.0 | 14.9% |
| 24 | Missouri | $13,780 | $71,589 | 19.2% | 10.0 | 13.9% |
| 25 | Pennsylvania* | $14,910 | $77,545 | 19.2% | 10.0 | 14.2% |
| 26 | Ohio | $13,780 | $72,212 | 19.1% | 9.9 | 14.6% |
| 27 | Delaware | $16,617 | $87,534 | 19.0% | 9.9 | 12.6% |
| 28 | Michigan | $13,454 | $72,389 | 18.6% | 9.7 | 13.1% |
| 29 | Virginia | $16,796 | $92,090 | 18.2% | 9.5 | 14.2% |
| 30 | Tennessee | $13,126 | $71,997 | 18.2% | 9.5 | 13.1% |
| 31 | Louisiana* | $10,847 | $60,986 | 17.8% | 9.2 | n/a |
| 32 | West Virginia* | $10,439 | $60,798 | 17.2% | 8.9 | 14.1% |
| 33 | Wyoming* | $12,784 | $75,532 | 16.9% | 8.8 | 14.2% |
| 34 | Iowa | $12,694 | $75,501 | 16.8% | 8.7 | 11.4% |
| 35 | Florida* | $13,011 | $77,735 | 16.7% | 8.7 | 14.4% |
| 36 | North Carolina | $12,370 | $73,958 | 16.7% | 8.7 | 13.5% |
| 37 | Oklahoma | $10,809 | $66,148 | 16.3% | 8.5 | 14.2% |
| 38 | New Hampshire | $16,040 | $99,782 | 16.1% | 8.4 | 11.7% |
| 39 | North Dakota | $12,299 | $77,871 | 15.8% | 8.2 | 13.0% |
| 40 | Nevada | $12,659 | $81,134 | 15.6% | 8.1 | 12.0% |
| 41 | Arkansas | $9,178 | $62,106 | 14.8% | 7.7 | 12.8% |
| 42 | Utah | $14,160 | $96,658 | 14.6% | 7.6 | 11.2% |
| 43 | South Carolina | $10,474 | $72,350 | 14.5% | 7.5 | 11.2% |
| 44 | Texas* | $11,349 | $79,721 | 14.2% | 7.4 | 12.6% |
| 45 | Georgia | $11,066 | $79,991 | 13.8% | 7.2 | 10.5% |
| 46 | Idaho | $10,608 | $81,166 | 13.1% | 6.8 | 9.1% |
| 47 | Mississippi* | $7,696 | $59,127 | 13.0% | 6.8 | 10.5% |
| 48 | Alabama* | $8,632 | $66,659 | 12.9% | 6.7 | 11.5% |
| 49 | Alaska | $12,107 | $95,665 | 12.7% | 6.6 | 11.3% |
| 50 | South Dakota | $8,632 | $76,881 | 11.2% | 5.8 | 8.9% |
| — | New Mexico | Not reported | $67,816 | Not ranked. Child care free for all families since Nov. 1, 2025 | ||
* Did not report to Child Care Aware of America for 2024; price from the state’s latest Market Rate Survey. Ranks use unrounded shares, so states with the same rounded share keep a set order. Louisiana reported no home-based price.
Which states are least affordable?
Massachusetts has both the highest price, $26,343 a year, and the highest share of income. Six more places take close to a quarter of the typical household’s income: Maryland (24.6%), Hawaii (23.9%), District of Columbia (23.9%), New York (23.8%), Illinois (23.8%), Nebraska (23.8%). Nebraska is the surprise: its price of $18,147 is lower than California’s $22,628, but its median income is about $24,000 lower, so care takes a bigger bite (23.8% vs. 22.6%). Minnesota, Wisconsin and Indiana also land in the top 10.
Where is infant care most affordable?
South Dakota (11.2%), Alaska (12.7%), Alabama (12.9%), Mississippi (13.0%) and Idaho (13.1%) have the lowest shares. Even there, a year of center care costs about 6 to 7 weeks of the typical household’s pay. Mississippi has the lowest price in the country ($7,696) but also the lowest median income ($59,127), so it ranks 47th, not 50th.
Is home-based child care cheaper?
Yes, in all 48 states and DC that report both prices. Licensed family child care (care in a provider’s home) takes from 8.9% of median income in South Dakota to 19.5% in District of Columbia. Hawaii shows the biggest gap: 23.9% for a center vs. 11.5% for home-based care. See child care costs by state for toddler and home-based prices.
Why isn’t New Mexico ranked?
New Mexico reported no 2024 price to Child Care Aware of America, and since November 1, 2025 the state has paid for child care for every family, regardless of income (New Mexico Early Childhood Education and Care Department).
Is there an official limit for what child care should cost?
Not any more. A 2024 federal rule capped what families getting child care subsidies pay at 7% of their income. HHS removed that cap in a final rule published May 12, 2026, and said it will not recommend a benchmark for now (Federal Register, Restoring Flexibility in the CCDF). By the old 7% yardstick, center infant care is unaffordable for a median-income household in every state ranked here.
How we calculated it
Share of income = the average yearly price of full-time infant care at a child care center in 2024 (Child Care Aware of America, 2024 Affordability Analysis, Tables I and II) divided by the state’s 2024 median household income (U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 1-year, table B19013). Weeks of pay = share × 52. Both numbers are for 2024, the latest year published for each. The median household includes people without young children, such as retirees, so families with a baby may earn more or less; Child Care Aware of America also reports prices against married-couple and single-parent incomes. Income figures are survey estimates with a margin of error (in our download). Prices are state averages; your area can differ a lot.
Download the data
Free to reuse under CC BY 4.0: CSV · JSON. Please cite “This Mom, Baby Money Report 2027 (thismom.com/baby-money-report/)”.
Plan your own first year with the baby budget calculator, and compare a dependent care FSA with the child care credit to cut the bill.
Last verified October 5, 2026 against official sources: Child Care Aware of America, U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2024, Federal Register (May 12, 2026), New Mexico ECECD.
Cite this page: This Mom, “Baby Money Report 2027: Infant Child Care Cost vs. Income by State”, thismom.com/baby-money-report/ (updated ). Data free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 with a link to the page.