County childcare costs · DOL NDCP 2022

Childcare costs in Chilton County, AL

$7,532 a year for center-based infant care - 12.1% of the local median income, against a national average of $9,592.

Chilton County, AL families pay $7,532/year for center-based infant care, while family childcare is $7,050/year, according to the U.S. Department of Labor National Database of Childcare Prices. This represents 12.1% of the median household income - exceeding the HHS 7% affordability threshold. Toddler care at a center costs $7,171/year, and preschool-age care is $6,456/year.

Chilton County vs. the nation

Chilton County, AL runs $7,532 a year for center-based infant care, 21% below the $9,592 U.S. average - cheaper than 67% of the 2,662 U.S. counties we track, and that bill eats 12.1% of the local median income against the 7% the federal government calls affordable.

Infant care (center)
$7,532/yr
Vs. national avg
-21%
National rank
#886 cheapest of 2,662
Share of income
12.1%

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

$7,532
Center Infant/yr
$7,050
Family Infant/yr
$62,471
Median Income
12.1%
% of Income (Infant)

Annual Childcare Costs by Age Group

Age Group Center-Based Family Childcare
Infant $7,532 $7,050
Toddler $7,171 $6,736
Preschool $6,456 $6,736
School Age $5,862 $6,097

Cost Comparison (Center-Based)

Infant $7,532
Toddler $7,171
Preschool $6,456
School Age $5,862

Where Chilton County ranks on infant-care cost

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

$7,532 Among the most affordable more affordable than 67% 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 Chilton County Families

Household affordability in Chilton County tracks against a median income of $62,471, putting infant center care at 12.1% of gross income. The HHS benchmark is 7%, meaning the typical family here exceeds the federal affordability line by 5.1 points.Chilton 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.

+33.6% since 2008
Infant center care: $5,637 → $7,532
$7,532/yr
Most recent annual cost (2022)
15 years
Data available (2008–2022)
2008
$5,637
2009
$5,646
2010
$5,655
2011
$5,664
2012
$5,673
2013
$5,682
2014
$5,691
2015
$5,885
2016
$6,079
2017
$6,273
2018
$6,525
2019
$6,777
2020
$7,028
2021
$7,280
2022
$7,532
View full data table (all care types)
Year Ctr Infant
2008 $5,637
2009 $5,646
2010 $5,655
2011 $5,664
2012 $5,673
2013 $5,682
2014 $5,691
2015 $5,885
2016 $6,079
2017 $6,273
2018 $6,525
2019 $6,777
2020 $7,028
2021 $7,280
2022 $7,532

What this means for Chilton County families

Infant center care here takes 12.1% of the typical household income - above the HHS 7% affordability line.

  • At 12.1% 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 $7,050/year for infants, about $482 less than a center. Weigh the trade-offs of each setting. Center vs. home care
  • See how Chilton 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 Chilton County, AL?
Chilton County, AL's center-based infant care rate is $7,532/year. Family childcare for infants comes in at $7,050/year, while center-based preschool is $6,456/year.
Is childcare affordable in Chilton County, AL?
Center-based infant care in Chilton County, AL costs 12.1% of the median household income ($62,471). The HHS affordability threshold is 7%. Childcare here exceeds the affordability threshold by 5.1 percentage points.
Are childcare costs rising in Chilton County, AL?
From 2022 to 2008, center-based infant care in Chilton County, AL changed from $7,532 to $5,637 (-25.2%).
What is the cheapest childcare option in Chilton County, AL?
In Chilton County, AL, a family childcare home is the cheaper preschool option: $6,736/year versus $6,456/year at a center, saving $280/year. Family settings typically mean fewer children per caregiver.
How much does before- and after-school care cost in Chilton County, AL?
Before- and after-school programs for ages 6-12 run $5,862/year at a center in Chilton County, AL and $6,097/year for family childcare. That covers before-school drop-off, after-school pickup, and summer coverage for working parents.