County childcare costs · DOL NDCP 2022

Childcare costs in Calhoun County, AL

$5,968 a year for center-based infant care - 11.0% of the local median income, against a national average of $9,592.

The going rate for center-based infant care in Calhoun County, AL is $5,968/year, while family childcare is $5,386/year, per the U.S. Department of Labor's National Database of Childcare Prices (NDCP). This represents 11.0% of the median household income - exceeding the HHS 7% affordability threshold. Toddler care at a center costs $5,957/year, and preschool-age care is $5,957/year.

Calhoun County vs. the nation

Calhoun County, AL runs $5,968 a year for center-based infant care, 38% below the $9,592 U.S. average - cheaper than 89% of the 2,662 U.S. counties we track, and that bill eats 11.0% of the local median income against the 7% the federal government calls affordable.

Infant care (center)
$5,968/yr
Vs. national avg
-38%
National rank
#298 cheapest of 2,662
Share of income
11.0%

Source: DOL National Database of Childcare Prices (2022). Median income: U.S. Census ACS 5-year.

$5,968
Center Infant/yr
$5,386
Family Infant/yr
$54,339
Median Income
11.0%
% of Income (Infant)

Annual Childcare Costs by Age Group

Age Group Center-Based Family Childcare
Infant $5,968 $5,386
Toddler $5,957 $5,386
Preschool $5,957 $5,386
School Age $5,307 $5,487

Cost Comparison (Center-Based)

Infant $5,968
Toddler $5,957
Preschool $5,957
School Age $5,307

Where Calhoun County ranks on infant-care cost

Center-based infant care, every U.S. county with reported prices

$5,968 Among the most affordable more affordable than 89% of 2,662 US counties

This county $2,500 $32,500 every U.S. county, bucketed by value

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 Calhoun County Families

Weighed against a $54,339 median household income, Calhoun County's childcare bill tells an affordability story, putting infant center care at 11.0% of gross income. Against the federal 7% affordability benchmark, the typical family here exceeds the federal affordability line by 4.0 points.Calhoun 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.

Here's how center-based infant care priced out from 2008 to 2022, across 15 years of NDCP survey data.

+43.3% since 2008
Infant center care: $4,165 → $5,968
$5,968/yr
Most recent annual cost (2022)
15 years
Data available (2008–2022)
2008
$4,165
2009
$4,251
2010
$4,338
2011
$4,425
2012
$4,512
2013
$4,598
2014
$4,685
2015
$4,786
2016
$4,887
2017
$4,989
2018
$5,185
2019
$5,380
2020
$5,576
2021
$5,772
2022
$5,968
View full data table (all care types)
Year Ctr Infant
2008 $4,165
2009 $4,251
2010 $4,338
2011 $4,425
2012 $4,512
2013 $4,598
2014 $4,685
2015 $4,786
2016 $4,887
2017 $4,989
2018 $5,185
2019 $5,380
2020 $5,576
2021 $5,772
2022 $5,968

What this means for Calhoun County families

Infant center care here takes 11.0% of the typical household income - above the HHS 7% affordability line.

  • At 11.0% 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 $5,386/year for infants, about $582 less than a center. Weigh the trade-offs of each setting. Center vs. home care
  • See how Calhoun County compares against the cheapest counties in Alabama. Cheapest in Alabama

NDCP figures are county-level survey medians for 2022, confirm current tuition and openings directly with providers and your state CCR&R agency.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does childcare cost in Calhoun County, AL?
Expect to pay $5,968/year for center-based infant care in Calhoun County, AL. A family childcare setting runs $5,386/year for infants, and center-based preschool runs $5,957/year.
Is childcare affordable in Calhoun County, AL?
In Calhoun County, AL, families spend 11.0% of the $54,339 median household income on center-based infant care. HHS calls anything above 7% unaffordable. Childcare here exceeds the affordability threshold by 4.0 percentage points.
Are childcare costs rising in Calhoun County, AL?
From 2022 to 2008, center-based infant care in Calhoun County, AL changed from $5,968 to $4,165 (-30.2%).
What is the cheapest childcare option in Calhoun County, AL?
Family-based childcare is typically less expensive in Calhoun County, AL. Preschool family care costs $5,386/year compared to $5,957/year for center-based care, a difference of $571/year. Family childcare operates in a provider's home and usually has smaller group sizes.
How much does before- and after-school care cost in Calhoun County, AL?
Before- and after-school programs for ages 6-12 run $5,307/year at a center in Calhoun County, AL and $5,487/year for family childcare. That covers before-school drop-off, after-school pickup, and summer coverage for working parents.