Childcare costs in Benton County, IA
$8,479 a year for center-based infant care - 10.7% of the local median income, against a national average of $9,592.
Benton County, IA families pay $8,479/year for center-based infant care, while family childcare is $5,571/year, based on National Database of Childcare Prices survey data from the U.S. Department of Labor. This represents 10.7% of the median household income - exceeding the HHS 7% affordability threshold. Toddler care at a center costs $7,306/year, and preschool-age care is $7,306/year.
Benton County vs. the nation
Center-based infant care costs $8,479 a year in Benton County, IA, coming in 12% below the nationwide average of $9,592 - cheaper than 55% of the 2,662 U.S. counties we track, and that bill eats 10.7% of the local median income against the 7% the federal government calls affordable.
- Infant care (center)
- $8,479/yr
- Vs. national avg
- -12%
- National rank
- #1,206 cheapest of 2,662
- Share of income
- 10.7%
Source: DOL National Database of Childcare Prices (2022). Median income: U.S. Census ACS 5-year.
- $8,479
- Center Infant/yr
- $5,571
- Family Infant/yr
- $79,444
- Median Income
- 10.7%
- % of Income (Infant)
Annual Childcare Costs by Age Group
| Age Group | Center-Based | Family Childcare |
|---|---|---|
| Infant | $8,479 | $5,571 |
| Toddler | $7,306 | $5,479 |
| Preschool | $7,306 | $5,479 |
| School Age | $5,845 | $5,297 |
Cost Comparison (Center-Based)
Where Benton County ranks on infant-care cost
Center-based infant care, every U.S. county with reported prices
$8,479 more affordable than 55% of 2,662 US counties
Each bar is a $2.5K-wide band; taller bars hold more US counties. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Department of Labor, National Database of Childcare Prices · 2022
What These Numbers Mean for Benton County Families
Benton County's median household income of $79,444 sets the bar for what counts as affordable care here, putting infant center care at 10.7% of gross income. HHS draws the affordability line at 7% of income, and the typical local family exceeds the federal affordability line by 3.7 points.Benton County families generally find care more manageable than the national picture, though waitlists at licensed providers remain the real bottleneck.
For how to vet a licensed provider (inspection reports, QRIS ratings, CCDF subsidy intake), see Choosing Quality Childcare. Rate methodology: how these numbers are computed.
Historical Price Trends (2008–2022)
7 years of federal survey data (2016–2022) show how center-based infant care has moved.
View full data table (all care types) ▼
| Year | Ctr Infant |
|---|---|
| 2008 | N/A |
| 2009 | N/A |
| 2010 | N/A |
| 2011 | N/A |
| 2012 | N/A |
| 2013 | N/A |
| 2014 | N/A |
| 2015 | N/A |
| 2016 | $7,846 |
| 2017 | $7,951 |
| 2018 | $8,057 |
| 2019 | $8,162 |
| 2020 | $8,267 |
| 2021 | $8,373 |
| 2022 | $8,479 |
What this means for Benton County families
Infant center care here takes 10.7% of the typical household income - above the HHS 7% affordability line.
- At 10.7% of income, infant care exceeds the federal 7% affordability benchmark. Check whether your family qualifies for a CCDF subsidy, which can cap copayments at a sliding share of income. Check subsidy eligibility
- Family childcare homes run $5,571/year for infants, about $2,908 less than a center. Weigh the trade-offs of each setting. Center vs. home care
- See how Benton County compares against the cheapest counties in Iowa. Cheapest in Iowa
NDCP figures are county-level survey medians for 2022, confirm current tuition and openings directly with providers and your state CCR&R agency.