About PlainChildcare

Our Mission

We believe every family deserves to know what childcare actually costs in their community. PlainChildcare exists to make childcare pricing data transparent, searchable, and easy to understand, helping parents, policymakers, and researchers see the true cost of care across every county in America.

Why we built this: childcare is one of the largest expenses American families face, yet pricing data has historically been scattered across government reports and academic studies that few parents have the time or tools to access. The U.S. Department of Labor publishes detailed county-level childcare cost data, but it is locked in spreadsheet formats that make comparison and exploration difficult. PlainChildcare transforms this data into a modern, searchable platform where anyone can look up costs in their area within seconds.

Our philosophy is to present the data faithfully and let families draw their own conclusions. We do not rate providers, recommend care arrangements, or editorialize on policy. We provide the numbers, costs by age group, care type, county, and state, so families can plan and advocates can build evidence-based arguments for better childcare policy.

Data Sources

All childcare pricing data comes from the U.S. Department of Labor Women's Bureau National Database of Childcare Prices (NDCP). This is the most comprehensive government dataset on childcare costs in the United States, providing county-level price estimates compiled from state market rate surveys and other administrative data. Our data sources include:

  • County-level childcare prices: Median annual costs for infant, toddler, preschool, and school-age care across center-based and family-based settings
  • Affordability context: Median household income data from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey, used to calculate childcare-to-income ratios
  • Geographic coverage: Data for 3,224 counties and county-equivalents across all 50 states and the District of Columbia

All source data is downloaded directly from the Department of Labor Women's Bureau and the Census Bureau. We do not modify the underlying cost figures or household income estimates.

Methodology

Our approach to processing childcare cost data prioritizes clarity and accuracy. We load the raw NDCP dataset into a structured database and organize it by county, state, age group, and care type. For each county, we calculate affordability ratios by comparing childcare costs against county-level median household income from the Census Bureau.

Counties where childcare costs exceed the federal affordability threshold (7% of household income, as defined by HHS) are flagged as areas of potential affordability concern. These designations are calculated directly from the data, not from subjective assessments. State-level aggregations show average, minimum, and maximum costs to provide a complete picture of pricing variation within each state.

We present four age group categories as defined by the NDCP: infant (under 1 year), toddler (ages 1-2), preschool (ages 3-5), and school-age (ages 6+). Care types are categorized as center-based (licensed childcare centers and preschools) and family-based (licensed family childcare homes). All costs are presented without adjustment or regional normalization.

Data Freshness and Update Schedule

The Department of Labor Women's Bureau updates the NDCP periodically as new state market rate survey data becomes available. Our current database reflects the most recent NDCP release. We update our database when new data is published by the Women's Bureau to maintain data currency.

Census household income data used for affordability calculations is updated annually through the American Community Survey. The last updated date for each data dimension is tracked in our ETL pipeline metadata to ensure transparency about the data vintage across all county and state profiles.

Editorial Independence

PlainChildcare's county and state pages are generated programmatically from the U.S. Department of Labor's National Database of Childcare Prices, with median household income for affordability context from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey. Our independent editorial team maintains the data pipeline, methodology, and corrections process, the figures are computed directly from the published source rather than hand-typed or estimated. See our editorial & corrections policy for the full process.

We do not accept payment, sponsorship, or promoted placement from childcare providers, agencies, or any entity we cover. Our only revenue source is contextual display advertising served by Google AdSense - advertisers do not influence which counties or rankings we show, and they do not receive preferential placement.

Limitations and Disclaimer

This site is for informational purposes only and does not constitute childcare, financial, or parenting advice. Important caveats to understand when using this data:

  • Prices shown are median annual costs from government survey data and may not reflect current market rates at individual providers
  • Actual costs vary significantly by specific provider, quality rating, accreditation status, and exact location within a county
  • Not all counties have data for all age groups or care types, data availability depends on state reporting
  • Affordability ratios use county-level median household income, which may not reflect individual family circumstances
  • The NDCP does not capture informal or unlicensed care arrangements, which may be more common in some areas

PlainChildcare is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Labor, the Women's Bureau, HHS, or any government agency. We are an independent data portal providing public information in a more accessible format. Always contact providers directly for current pricing and availability.

Contact

For questions, feedback, or data correction requests, email us at hello@plainchildcare.com. We welcome reports of data discrepancies and suggestions for improving the site. Our goal is to help families, researchers, and policymakers access the childcare cost data they need.