County childcare costs · DOL NDCP 2022

Childcare costs in Falls Church City, VA

$22,311 a year for center-based infant care - 13.6% of the local median income, against a national average of $9,592.

The going rate for center-based infant care in Falls Church City, VA is $22,311/year, while family childcare is $14,926/year, according to the U.S. Department of Labor National Database of Childcare Prices. This represents 13.6% of the median household income - exceeding the HHS 7% affordability threshold. Toddler care at a center costs $16,238/year, and preschool-age care is $16,238/year.

Falls Church City vs. the nation

At $22,311 a year for center-based infant care, Falls Church City, VA is 133% above the national average of $9,592 - cheaper than 1% of the 2,662 U.S. counties we track, and that bill eats 13.6% of the local median income against the 7% the federal government calls affordable.

Infant care (center)
$22,311/yr
Vs. national avg
+133%
National rank
#2,641 cheapest of 2,662
Share of income
13.6%

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

$22,311
Center Infant/yr
$14,926
Family Infant/yr
$164,536
Median Income
13.6%
% of Income (Infant)

Annual Childcare Costs by Age Group

Age Group Center-Based Family Childcare
Infant $22,311 $14,926
Toddler $16,238 $11,954
Preschool $16,238 $11,954
School Age $19,510 $16,800

Cost Comparison (Center-Based)

Infant $22,311
Toddler $16,238
Preschool $16,238
School Age $19,510

Where Falls Church City ranks on infant-care cost

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

$22,311 more affordable than 1% 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 Falls Church City Families

Falls Church City's median household income of $164,536 sets the bar for what counts as affordable care here, putting infant center care at 13.6% of gross income. HHS draws the affordability line at 7% of income, and the typical local family exceeds the federal affordability line by 6.6 points.Falls Church City 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.

Center-based infant care costs over 2009–2022 (13 years of NDCP data).

+42.1% since 2009
Infant center care: $15,704 → $22,311
$22,311/yr
Most recent annual cost (2022)
13 years
Data available (2009–2022)
2009
$15,704
2010
$15,912
2011
$16,120
2012
$16,328
2013
$16,779
2014
$17,229
2015
$17,680
2016
$18,287
2017
$18,893
2018
$19,500
2019
$20,107
2020
$20,713
2022
$22,311
View full data table (all care types)
Year Ctr Infant
2008 N/A
2009 $15,704
2010 $15,912
2011 $16,120
2012 $16,328
2013 $16,779
2014 $17,229
2015 $17,680
2016 $18,287
2017 $18,893
2018 $19,500
2019 $20,107
2020 $20,713
2021 N/A
2022 $22,311

What this means for Falls Church City families

Infant center care here takes 13.6% of the typical household income - above the HHS 7% affordability line.

  • At 13.6% 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 $14,926/year for infants, about $7,385 less than a center. Weigh the trade-offs of each setting. Center vs. home care
  • See how Falls Church City compares against the cheapest counties in Virginia. Cheapest in Virginia

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 Falls Church City, VA?
Falls Church City, VA's center-based infant care rate is $22,311/year. Family childcare for infants comes in at $14,926/year, while center-based preschool is $16,238/year.
Is childcare affordable in Falls Church City, VA?
Center-based infant care in Falls Church City, VA costs 13.6% of the median household income ($164,536). The HHS affordability threshold is 7%. Childcare here exceeds the affordability threshold by 6.6 percentage points.
What is the cheapest childcare option in Falls Church City, VA?
In Falls Church City, VA, a family childcare home is the cheaper preschool option: $11,954/year versus $16,238/year at a center, saving $4,284/year. Family settings typically mean fewer children per caregiver.
How much does before- and after-school care cost in Falls Church City, VA?
Center-based before/after-school care for 6-12 year olds in Falls Church City, VA runs $19,510/year and $16,800/year for family childcare, covering the gaps around the school day and summer break.