Average Costs Per State

[MrsB]

So there is always lots of discussion regarding average costs in an area so I did some surfing. I found this which is interesting. The data is from 2011 so pretty recent.

http://www.doodledays.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=61&Itemid=112

My state was pretty spot on. Maybe a little high, but I figured since I live in a upper-lower class community (not sure if that is a word :confused.

How do your interpretations of what you think is average daycare cost match up to these numbers?

The other thing I noticed is the center rates really are not that different from the family care rates (in my state). Which is not necessarily my experience, but to be honest I haven't called centers rate checking in a while. Hmmmm

Massachussets has a really high rate! Which is funny because daycare rates are not always indicitive of cost of living. There are several states that have a much higher cost of living than Massachusetts but much lower daycare rates. (My state!)

Interesting!

[Blackcat31]

My state was a little low in what they are saying are average rates IMO. I charge a bit more than they say is normal for family care and I think the farther south you go in my state (more metro areas) the higher the cost so their estimates would be way off for that area.

I also find that all the centers here in my community charge about the same as family care so there is not a big difference between the two types of care as far as money goes.

My state also seems to view SA kids in the same manner I do: more work, more supervision= more money. ::

So the averages they give for SA care is really low as most places around my area charge ALOT for SA.

[cheerfuldom]

My state is probably close to the rates listed. But there is a huge variety within the states between the urban and rural area costs. The urban is probably about 4x as much as rural so the rates listed can be misleading.

[DCMom]

My state also seems to view SA kids in the same manner I do: more work, more supervision= more money. ::

So the averages they give for SA care is really low as most places around my area charge ALOT for SA.

::
I was thinking the same thing!

[AfterSchoolMom]

My state thinks I was WAY undercharging for SA care. Parents disagree.

Infant and 4 year old care is pretty spot on.

[Childminder]

I charge more than average for a family home, even though felt I was low. I am in a metro city area so may be why. Our state is pretty diverse in income and metro vs rural areas so that might be the reason.

[DCBlessings27]

The averages in KS were low. Infant care in my area averages around 150. I have my rate at 175. School-age was definitely low. I do know some providers in smaller towns charge less than $100/week for all ages though.

[Heidi]

My state is probably close to the rates listed. But there is a huge variety within the states between the urban and rural area costs. The urban is probably about 4x as much as rural so the rates listed can be misleading.

same here! In Juneau County the family providers charge $110/infant per week, the centers closer to $135, but all the centers here combined probably have no more than 12-16 infant spots, and we have LOTS of unregulated and illegal providers.

In Madison, they have way fewer illegals (too easy to get called in), and fairly few unregulated (higher percentage of educated people who want regulated care), and the rate for infants is closer to $250 per week, and the family childcare providers aren't much "cheaper" than the centers.

[MrsB]

Oh yes, I agree. I hope no one took this post as this is what you should charge for your state? Mine are pretty spot on probably because my area is pretty close to representing the average of the state, as far as income, cost of living, assessability to childcare, etc. I think if you were going to use these figures you would definately have to take into aco**** that these averages include the highs and lows from all areas in the state.

On the other hand, just a note, there was an off chance my hubby got transferred to New Mexico. After looking at the figures. I am glad he didnt! To make money at my profession, I probably would have had to live on base to get paid more than $70 per week.

This also raises my next question, I wonder how the costs match up to states with super strict licensing requirements versus those that are more lenient

[Unregistered]

So there is always lots of discussion regarding average costs in an area so I did some surfing. I found this which is interesting. The data is from 2011 so pretty recent.

http://www.doodledays.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=61&Itemid=112

My state was pretty spot on. Maybe a little high, but I figured since I live in a upper-lower class community (not sure if that is a word :confused.

How do your interpretations of what you think is average daycare cost match up to these numbers?

The other thing I noticed is the center rates really are not that different from the family care rates (in my state). Which is not necessarily my experience, but to be honest I haven't called centers rate checking in a while. Hmmmm

Massachussets has a really high rate! Which is funny because daycare rates are not always indicitive of cost of living. There are several states that have a much higher cost of living than Massachusetts but much lower daycare rates. (My state!)

Interesting!

I'm in MD too and the rates there are lower than anything I've found around me (at least for infant care). Centers are $300+ and homes are usually about $200-250. I'm in Central MD, so maybe the more rural parts balance it out.

[wdmmom]

I am in Iowa and those rates are comparable yet low.

The city I am in is significantly higher than those rates.


In home daycare infant rates probably average $150-$185.

Toddler/preschool age care averages $125 -$150

Center infant care averages about $200-$225

Toddler rates are around $185-$205.

I don't know what the average rates are for before or after school and I don't provide it so I don't keep up on that.

[MarinaVanessa]

I'm in Southern CA between Santa Barbara and Los Angeles and what they list is pretty low in my opinion. But then again in my city and even in my area of my city we are pretty high on the scale. I devided their amount for infant family care by 52 weeks and it came out to be $131 per week, the rate in my area seems to be $160 per week.

[AmyLeigh]

I'm in Southern CA between Santa Barbara and Los Angeles and what they list is pretty low in my opinion. But then again in my city and even in my area of my city we are pretty high on the scale. I devided their amount for infant family care by 52 weeks and it came out to be $131 per week, the rate in my area seems to be $160 per week.

And yet it's a little high for my area of the state. ($100-$125 a week)

[MrsB]

I'm in MD too and the rates there are lower than anything I've found around me (at least for infant care). Centers are $300+ and homes are usually about $200-250. I'm in Central MD, so maybe the more rural parts balance it out.

Yeah I think you are right. My guess was the closer you get to the beltway the higher the costs are. Im in southern MD.

[Lucy]

Wow, the difference between Massachusetts (the highest) and Texas (the lowest) was amazing!!! I'm puzzled as to why Texas is so low??? Why is Massachusetts so dang high??? Connecticut seemed to come in at #2.

Anyway, my state's average is on the low side compared to what I charge. What we have to remember for the larger states is that it comprises the entire state, which may include less densely populated, lower income areas. I am in a metropolis, so my area is higher than my state's average.