Childcare costs in Brown County, NE
$9,737 a year for center-based infant care - 22.0% of the local median income, against a national average of $9,592.
The going rate for center-based infant care in Brown County, NE is $9,737/year, while family childcare is $5,590/year, per the U.S. Department of Labor's National Database of Childcare Prices (NDCP). This represents 22.0% of the median household income - exceeding the HHS 7% affordability threshold. Toddler care at a center costs $9,230/year, and preschool-age care is $8,450/year.
Brown County vs. the nation
According to PlainChildcare's center-based infant-care ranking (DOL NDCP priced counties), Brown County, NE ranks #1,532 of 2,662 U.S. counties by annual center infant price (cheapest = #1). Center-based infant care costs $9,737 a year in Brown County, NE, coming in 2% above the nationwide average of $9,592 - cheaper than 39% of the 2,662 U.S. counties we track, and that bill eats 22.0% of the local median income against the 7% the federal government calls affordable.
- Infant care (center)
- $9,737/yr
- Vs. national avg
- +2%
- Corpus placement
- #1,532 of 2,662
- Share of income
- 22.0%
Source: DOL National Database of Childcare Prices (2022). Median income: U.S. Census ACS 5-year.
- $9,737
- Center Infant/yr
- $5,590
- Family Infant/yr
- $44,267
- Median Income
- 22.0%
- % of Income (Infant)
Annual Childcare Costs by Age Group
| Age Group | Center-Based | Family Childcare |
|---|---|---|
| Infant | $9,737 | $5,590 |
| Toddler | $9,230 | $5,850 |
| Preschool | $8,450 | $5,980 |
| School Age | $8,190 | $6,110 |
Cost Comparison (Center-Based)
Where Brown County ranks on infant-care cost
Center-based infant care, every U.S. county with reported prices
$9,737 more affordable than 39% 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
Full NDCP Care Ladder in Brown County
This county reports every age×setting cell in the DOL NDCP survey. That lets us compare the center premium over family care at each age, and how steeply costs fall from infant to school-age.
| Age | Center | Family | Center premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Infant | $9,737 | $5,590 | +$4,147 (+74.2%) |
| Toddler | $9,230 | $5,850 | +$3,380 (+57.8%) |
| Preschool | $8,450 | $5,980 | +$2,470 (+41.3%) |
| School Age | $8,190 | $6,110 | +$2,080 (+34%) |
Across all four ages, a center path totals $35,607/year versus $23,530/year for family care ($12,077 more at a center). Infant center care runs 1.19× school-age center care here. Among the 93Nebraska counties with a complete NDCP ladder, Brown County ranks #9 by infant center price (1 = cheapest).
What These Numbers Mean for Brown County Families
Weighed against a $44,267 median household income, Brown County's childcare bill tells an affordability story, putting infant center care at 22.0% of gross income. The HHS benchmark is 7%, meaning the typical family here exceeds the federal affordability line by 15.0 points.At over 20% of income, Brown County qualifies as an affordability desert, counties where childcare competes with housing and healthcare for household budget share.
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)
Center-based infant care costs over 2016–2022 (7 years of NDCP data).
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 | $7,140 |
| 2017 | $6,926 |
| 2018 | $6,713 |
| 2019 | $6,500 |
| 2020 | $7,579 |
| 2021 | $8,658 |
| 2022 | $9,737 |
What this means for Brown County families
Infant center care here takes 22.0% of the typical household income - above the HHS 7% affordability line.
- At 22.0% 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 $5,590/year for infants, about $4,147 less than a center. Weigh the trade-offs of each setting. Center vs. home care
- See how Brown County compares against the cheapest counties in Nebraska. Cheapest in Nebraska
NDCP figures are county-level survey medians for 2022, confirm current tuition and openings directly with providers and your state CCR&R agency.