Childcare costs in Dorchester County, SC
$10,344 a year for center-based infant care - 14.0% of the local median income, against a national average of $9,592.
Dorchester County, SC families pay $10,344/year for center-based infant care, while family childcare is $7,152/year, based on National Database of Childcare Prices survey data from the U.S. Department of Labor. This represents 14.0% of the median household income - exceeding the HHS 7% affordability threshold. Toddler care at a center costs $9,622/year, and preschool-age care is $9,418/year.
Dorchester County vs. the nation
According to PlainChildcare's center-based infant-care ranking (DOL NDCP priced counties), Dorchester County, SC ranks #1,744 of 2,662 U.S. counties by annual center infant price (cheapest = #1). Dorchester County, SC runs $10,344 a year for center-based infant care, 8% above the $9,592 U.S. average - cheaper than 34% of the 2,662 U.S. counties we track, and that bill eats 14.0% of the local median income against the 7% the federal government calls affordable.
- Infant care (center)
- $10,344/yr
- Vs. national avg
- +8%
- Corpus placement
- #1,744 of 2,662
- Share of income
- 14.0%
Source: DOL National Database of Childcare Prices (2022). Median income: U.S. Census ACS 5-year.
- $10,344
- Center Infant/yr
- $7,152
- Family Infant/yr
- $73,686
- Median Income
- 14.0%
- % of Income (Infant)
Annual Childcare Costs by Age Group
| Age Group | Center-Based | Family Childcare |
|---|---|---|
| Infant | $10,344 | $7,152 |
| Toddler | $9,622 | $7,152 |
| Preschool | $9,418 | $6,929 |
| School Age | $7,158 | $4,652 |
Cost Comparison (Center-Based)
Where Dorchester County ranks on infant-care cost
Center-based infant care, every U.S. county with reported prices
$10,344 more affordable than 34% 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 Dorchester 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 | $10,344 | $7,152 | +$3,192 (+44.6%) |
| Toddler | $9,622 | $7,152 | +$2,470 (+34.5%) |
| Preschool | $9,418 | $6,929 | +$2,489 (+35.9%) |
| School Age | $7,158 | $4,652 | +$2,506 (+53.9%) |
Across all four ages, a center path totals $36,542/year versus $25,885/year for family care ($10,657 more at a center). Infant center care runs 1.45× school-age center care here. Among the 46South Carolina counties with a complete NDCP ladder, Dorchester County ranks #33 by infant center price (1 = cheapest).
What These Numbers Mean for Dorchester County Families
Weighed against a $73,686 median household income, Dorchester County's childcare bill tells an affordability story, putting infant center care at 14.0% of gross income. The HHS benchmark is 7%, meaning the typical family here exceeds the federal affordability line by 7.0 points.Dorchester 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)
9 years of federal survey data (2014–2022) show how center-based infant care has moved.
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 | $6,825 |
| 2015 | $7,150 |
| 2016 | $7,475 |
| 2017 | $7,800 |
| 2018 | $8,309 |
| 2019 | $8,818 |
| 2020 | $9,327 |
| 2021 | $9,835 |
| 2022 | $10,344 |
What this means for Dorchester County families
Infant center care here takes 14.0% of the typical household income - above the HHS 7% affordability line.
- At 14.0% 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 $7,152/year for infants, about $3,192 less than a center. Weigh the trade-offs of each setting. Center vs. home care
- See how Dorchester County compares against the cheapest counties in South Carolina. Cheapest in South Carolina
NDCP figures are county-level survey medians for 2022, confirm current tuition and openings directly with providers and your state CCR&R agency.