County childcare costs · DOL NDCP 2022

Childcare costs in Fayette County, WV

$8,838 a year for center-based infant care - 17.6% of the local median income, against a national average of $9,592.

Fayette County, WV families pay $8,838/year for center-based infant care, while family childcare is $8,087/year, according to the U.S. Department of Labor National Database of Childcare Prices. This represents 17.6% of the median household income - exceeding the HHS 7% affordability threshold. Toddler care at a center costs $8,395/year, and preschool-age care is $8,608/year.

Fayette County vs. the nation

According to PlainChildcare's center-based infant-care ranking (DOL NDCP priced counties), Fayette County, WV ranks #1,270 of 2,662 U.S. counties by annual center infant price (cheapest = #1). Fayette County, WV runs $8,838 a year for center-based infant care, 8% below the $9,592 U.S. average - cheaper than 52% of the 2,662 U.S. counties we track, and that bill eats 17.6% of the local median income against the 7% the federal government calls affordable.

Infant care (center)
$8,838/yr
Vs. national avg
-8%
Corpus placement
#1,270 of 2,662
Share of income
17.6%

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

$8,838
Center Infant/yr
$8,087
Family Infant/yr
$50,090
Median Income
17.6%
% of Income (Infant)

Annual Childcare Costs by Age Group

Age Group Center-Based Family Childcare
Infant $8,838 $8,087
Toddler $8,395 $6,757
Preschool $8,608 $6,757
School Age $7,731 $6,757

Cost Comparison (Center-Based)

Infant $8,838
Toddler $8,395
Preschool $8,608
School Age $7,731

Where Fayette County ranks on infant-care cost

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

$8,838 more affordable than 52% 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

Full NDCP Care Ladder in Fayette 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 $8,838 $8,087 +$751 (+9.3%)
Toddler $8,395 $6,757 +$1,638 (+24.2%)
Preschool $8,608 $6,757 +$1,851 (+27.4%)
School Age $7,731 $6,757 +$974 (+14.4%)

Across all four ages, a center path totals $33,572/year versus $28,358/year for family care ($5,214 more at a center). Infant center care runs 1.14× school-age center care here. Among the 55West Virginia counties with a complete NDCP ladder, Fayette County ranks #22 by infant center price (1 = cheapest).

What These Numbers Mean for Fayette County Families

Weighed against a $50,090 median household income, Fayette County's childcare bill tells an affordability story, putting infant center care at 17.6% of gross income. Against the federal 7% affordability benchmark, the typical family here exceeds the federal affordability line by 10.6 points.Between 15-20% of income, Fayette County sits in a high-burden tier where most working families need subsidy help or split shifts to cover care.

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 2008–2022 (15 years of NDCP data).

+63.9% since 2008
Infant center care: $5,391 → $8,838
$8,838/yr
Most recent annual cost (2022)
15 years
Data available (2008–2022)
2008
$5,391
2009
$5,392
2010
$5,392
2011
$5,392
2012
$6,074
2013
$6,116
2014
$6,157
2015
$6,199
2016
$6,303
2017
$6,408
2018
$6,512
2019
$7,094
2020
$7,675
2021
$8,257
2022
$8,838
View full data table (all care types)
Year Ctr Infant
2008 $5,391
2009 $5,392
2010 $5,392
2011 $5,392
2012 $6,074
2013 $6,116
2014 $6,157
2015 $6,199
2016 $6,303
2017 $6,408
2018 $6,512
2019 $7,094
2020 $7,675
2021 $8,257
2022 $8,838

What this means for Fayette County families

Infant center care here takes 17.6% of the typical household income - above the HHS 7% affordability line.

  • At 17.6% 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 $8,087/year for infants, about $751 less than a center. Weigh the trade-offs of each setting. Center vs. home care
  • See how Fayette County compares against the cheapest counties in West Virginia. Cheapest in West 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 Fayette County, WV?
Expect to pay $8,838/year for center-based infant care in Fayette County, WV. A family childcare setting runs $8,087/year for infants, and center-based preschool runs $8,608/year.
Is childcare affordable in Fayette County, WV?
Fayette County, WV's median household income is $50,090; center-based infant care eats 17.6% of that. The federal affordability line is 7%. Childcare here exceeds the affordability threshold by 10.6 percentage points.
Are childcare costs rising in Fayette County, WV?
From 2022 to 2008, center-based infant care in Fayette County, WV changed from $8,838 to $5,391 (-39.0%).
What is the cheapest childcare option in Fayette County, WV?
The lowest-cost preschool option in Fayette County, WV is family childcare, at $6,757/year against $8,608/year for a center, $1,851/year cheaper. It's run out of a provider's home, usually with a smaller group.
How much does before- and after-school care cost in Fayette County, WV?
Before- and after-school programs for ages 6-12 run $7,731/year at a center in Fayette County, WV and $6,757/year for family childcare. That covers before-school drop-off, after-school pickup, and summer coverage for working parents.