Childcare costs in Clay County, SD
$7,800 a year for center-based infant care - 13.9% of the local median income, against a national average of $9,592.
Clay County, SD families pay $7,800/year for center-based infant care, while family childcare is $5,325/year, per the U.S. Department of Labor's National Database of Childcare Prices (NDCP). This represents 13.9% of the median household income - exceeding the HHS 7% affordability threshold. Toddler care at a center costs $7,800/year, and preschool-age care is $7,093/year.
Clay County vs. the nation
According to PlainChildcare's center-based infant-care ranking (DOL NDCP priced counties), Clay County, SD ranks #981 of 2,662 U.S. counties by annual center infant price (cheapest = #1). At $7,800 a year for center-based infant care, Clay County, SD is 19% below the national average of $9,592 - cheaper than 63% of the 2,662 U.S. counties we track, and that bill eats 13.9% of the local median income against the 7% the federal government calls affordable.
- Infant care (center)
- $7,800/yr
- Vs. national avg
- -19%
- Corpus placement
- #981 of 2,662
- Share of income
- 13.9%
Source: DOL National Database of Childcare Prices (2022). Median income: U.S. Census ACS 5-year.
- $7,800
- Center Infant/yr
- $5,325
- Family Infant/yr
- $55,963
- Median Income
- 13.9%
- % of Income (Infant)
Annual Childcare Costs by Age Group
| Age Group | Center-Based | Family Childcare |
|---|---|---|
| Infant | $7,800 | $5,325 |
| Toddler | $7,800 | $5,325 |
| Preschool | $7,093 | $5,200 |
| School Age | $6,240 | $5,200 |
Cost Comparison (Center-Based)
Where Clay County ranks on infant-care cost
Center-based infant care, every U.S. county with reported prices
$7,800 Among the most affordable more affordable than 63% 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 Clay 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 | $7,800 | $5,325 | +$2,475 (+46.5%) |
| Toddler | $7,800 | $5,325 | +$2,475 (+46.5%) |
| Preschool | $7,093 | $5,200 | +$1,893 (+36.4%) |
| School Age | $6,240 | $5,200 | +$1,040 (+20%) |
Across all four ages, a center path totals $28,933/year versus $21,050/year for family care ($7,883 more at a center). Infant center care runs 1.25× school-age center care here. Among the 66South Dakota counties with a complete NDCP ladder, Clay County ranks #56 by infant center price (1 = cheapest).
What These Numbers Mean for Clay County Families
Clay County's median household income of $55,963 sets the bar for what counts as affordable care here, putting infant center care at 13.9% of gross income. HHS draws the affordability line at 7% of income, and the typical local family exceeds the federal affordability line by 6.9 points.Clay 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)
The NDCP has tracked center-based infant care here for 15 years, from 2008 through 2022.
View full data table (all care types) ▼
| Year | Ctr Infant |
|---|---|
| 2008 | $5,585 |
| 2009 | $6,073 |
| 2010 | $5,596 |
| 2011 | $5,119 |
| 2012 | $5,336 |
| 2013 | $5,553 |
| 2014 | $5,943 |
| 2015 | $6,334 |
| 2016 | $6,464 |
| 2017 | $6,594 |
| 2018 | $6,835 |
| 2019 | $7,076 |
| 2020 | $7,317 |
| 2021 | $7,559 |
| 2022 | $7,800 |
What this means for Clay County families
Infant center care here takes 13.9% of the typical household income - above the HHS 7% affordability line.
- At 13.9% 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 $5,325/year for infants, about $2,475 less than a center. Weigh the trade-offs of each setting. Center vs. home care
- See how Clay County compares against the cheapest counties in South Dakota. Cheapest in South Dakota
NDCP figures are county-level survey medians for 2022, confirm current tuition and openings directly with providers and your state CCR&R agency.