Childcare costs in El Paso County, CO
$18,223 a year for center-based infant care - 22.0% of the local median income, against a national average of $9,592.
The going rate for center-based infant care in El Paso County, CO is $18,223/year, while family childcare is $12,568/year, according to the U.S. Department of Labor National Database of Childcare Prices. This represents 22.0% of the median household income - exceeding the HHS 7% affordability threshold. Toddler care at a center costs $15,626/year, and preschool-age care is $13,835/year.
El Paso County vs. the nation
According to PlainChildcare's center-based infant-care ranking (DOL NDCP priced counties), El Paso County, CO ranks #2,566 of 2,662 U.S. counties by annual center infant price (cheapest = #1). At $18,223 a year for center-based infant care, El Paso County, CO is 90% above the national average of $9,592 - cheaper than 4% of the 2,662 U.S. counties we track, and that bill eats 22.0% of the local median income against the 7% the federal government calls affordable.
- Infant care (center)
- $18,223/yr
- Vs. national avg
- +90%
- Corpus placement
- #2,566 of 2,662
- Share of income
- 22.0%
Source: DOL National Database of Childcare Prices (2022). Median income: U.S. Census ACS 5-year.
- $18,223
- Center Infant/yr
- $12,568
- Family Infant/yr
- $82,748
- Median Income
- 22.0%
- % of Income (Infant)
Annual Childcare Costs by Age Group
| Age Group | Center-Based | Family Childcare |
|---|---|---|
| Infant | $18,223 | $12,568 |
| Toddler | $15,626 | $11,151 |
| Preschool | $13,835 | $11,151 |
| School Age | $7,671 | $8,905 |
Cost Comparison (Center-Based)
Where El Paso County ranks on infant-care cost
Center-based infant care, every U.S. county with reported prices
$18,223 more affordable than 4% 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 El Paso 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 | $18,223 | $12,568 | +$5,655 (+45%) |
| Toddler | $15,626 | $11,151 | +$4,475 (+40.1%) |
| Preschool | $13,835 | $11,151 | +$2,684 (+24.1%) |
| School Age | $7,671 | $8,905 | $-1,234 (-13.9%) |
Across all four ages, a center path totals $55,355/year versus $43,775/year for family care ($11,580 more at a center). Infant center care runs 2.38× school-age center care here. Among the 62Colorado counties with a complete NDCP ladder, El Paso County ranks #51 by infant center price (1 = cheapest).
What These Numbers Mean for El Paso County Families
El Paso County's median household income of $82,748 sets the bar for what counts as affordable care here, putting infant center care at 22.0% of gross income. Against the federal 7% affordability benchmark, the typical family here exceeds the federal affordability line by 15.0 points.At over 20% of income, El Paso County qualifies as an affordability desert, counties where childcare competes with housing and healthcare for household budget share.
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)
Here's how center-based infant care priced out from 2014 to 2022, across 3 years of NDCP survey data.
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 | $15,213 |
| 2015 | $15,590 |
| 2016 | N/A |
| 2017 | N/A |
| 2018 | N/A |
| 2019 | N/A |
| 2020 | N/A |
| 2021 | N/A |
| 2022 | $18,223 |
What this means for El Paso County families
Infant center care here takes 22.0% of the typical household income - above the HHS 7% affordability line.
- At 22.0% 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 $12,568/year for infants, about $5,655 less than a center. Weigh the trade-offs of each setting. Center vs. home care
- See how El Paso County compares against the cheapest counties in Colorado. Cheapest in Colorado
NDCP figures are county-level survey medians for 2022, confirm current tuition and openings directly with providers and your state CCR&R agency.