County childcare costs · DOL NDCP 2022
Childcare costs in Denton County, TX
The standout signal in Denton County, TX is income burden: infant center care takes 9.5% of median ACS income (OVER7 · light-burden tercile), while the sticker sits 4% above the national average.
Data updated 2026-07-05
- $9,932
- Center Infant/yr
- $8,684
- Family Infant/yr
- $104,180
- Median Income
- 9.5%
- % of Income (Infant)
The verdict
Denton County pairs the 38th percentile for infant-care affordability nationally with a light income burden on families.
- 38th pct.
- affordability nationally
- Light
- income-burden tier
- Moderate
- family-vs-infant price gap
- #1,644
- of 2,662 priced counties
A center-based childcare affordability composite (infant, preschool, and school-age price burden relative to local median income) plus poverty rate, benchmarked against every other tracked county nationally. Not a rating of childcare quality, safety, or availability. Dimensions with no data on file are excluded and their weight redistributed, never counted as zero.
National sticker context: $9,592 average.
The going rate for center-based infant care in Denton County, TX is $9,932/year, while family childcare is $8,684/year, according to the U.S. Department of Labor National Database of Childcare Prices. This represents 9.5% of the median household income, exceeding the HHS 7% affordability threshold. Toddler care at a center costs $9,152/year.
Annual childcare costs by age in Denton County
| Age Group | Center-Based | Family Childcare |
|---|---|---|
| Infant | $9,932 | $8,684 |
| Toddler | $9,152 | $8,216 |
| Preschool | $8,840 | $8,112 |
| School Age | $8,268 | $7,592 |
Where Denton County ranks on infant-care cost
Center-based infant care, every U.S. county with reported prices
$9,932 more affordable than 38% 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
Denton County vs. every other Texas county: income vs. infant-care cost
Median household income (x) vs. average center-based infant care (y) across 30 Texas counties with reported prices. Crosshairs at the Texas median.
Within Texas, Denton County has higher income and higher infant-care cost than the typical Texas county (its national standing, the 38th percentile for infant-care affordability nationally, is a separate comparison against every U.S. county, not just its own state).
Full NDCP Care Ladder in Denton County
Every age×setting NDCP cell is reported here (PAR / OVER7 · mid-price), center premium and age-step are county-specific.
| Age | Center | Family | Center premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Infant | $9,932 | $8,684 | +$1,248 (+14.4%) |
| Toddler | $9,152 | $8,216 | +$936 (+11.4%) |
| Preschool | $8,840 | $8,112 | +$728 (+9%) |
| School Age | $8,268 | $7,592 | +$676 (+8.9%) |
Across all four ages, a center path totals $36,192/year versus $32,604/year for family care ($3,588 more at a center). Infant center care runs 1.2× school-age center care here. Among the 254Texas counties with a complete NDCP ladder, Denton County ranks #230 by infant center price (1 = cheapest).
Denton County burden reading
The standout signal in Denton County, TX is income burden: infant center care takes 9.5% of median ACS income (OVER7 · light-burden tercile), while the sticker sits 4% above the national average.
Light-burden tercile reading: Denton County keeps infant center care at 9.5% of a $104,180 median (OVER7). Sticker still matters (PAR), but income share is not the binding constraint versus waitlists and licensed capacity.
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 2009–2022 (14 years of NDCP data).
View full data table (all care types) ▼
| Year | Ctr Infant |
|---|---|
| 2008 | N/A |
| 2009 | $7,298 |
| 2010 | $7,875 |
| 2011 | $8,453 |
| 2012 | $9,030 |
| 2013 | $8,460 |
| 2014 | $8,512 |
| 2015 | $9,287 |
| 2016 | $9,321 |
| 2017 | $9,300 |
| 2018 | $9,441 |
| 2019 | $9,589 |
| 2020 | $9,737 |
| 2021 | $10,556 |
| 2022 | $9,932 |
Nearest infant-price counties in Texas
Ordered by ABS(center_infant) to Denton County's PAR NDCP sticker - not A-Z chrome.
What to do with Denton County
Infant center care here runs 9.5% of the local median income (OVER7), check where your own household lands.
- Denton County spends 9.5% of median income on infant center care, above the HHS 7%-of-income affordability line. See exactly where your own household income lands. Affordability calculator
- $9,932/yr center infant sticker (PAR) - see how Denton County compares against the full national ladder. National rankings
- If care is straining the budget, federal and state programs (CCDF, Head Start) can cut it sharply. Check whether Denton County families are likely eligible. Check subsidy eligibility
Figures are NDCP county-level survey medians for 2022 - your local providers set the actual price.