Childcare costs in Hillsdale County, MI
$6,469 a year for center-based infant care - 10.9% of the local median income, against a national average of $9,592.
Hillsdale County, MI families pay $6,469/year for center-based infant care, while family childcare is $7,515/year, per the U.S. Department of Labor's National Database of Childcare Prices (NDCP). This represents 10.9% of the median household income - exceeding the HHS 7% affordability threshold. Toddler care at a center costs $6,469/year, and preschool-age care is $5,354/year.
Hillsdale County vs. the nation
According to PlainChildcare's center-based infant-care ranking (DOL NDCP priced counties), Hillsdale County, MI ranks #531 of 2,662 U.S. counties by annual center infant price (cheapest = #1). Hillsdale County, MI runs $6,469 a year for center-based infant care, 33% below the $9,592 U.S. average - cheaper than 80% of the 2,662 U.S. counties we track, and that bill eats 10.9% of the local median income against the 7% the federal government calls affordable.
- Infant care (center)
- $6,469/yr
- Vs. national avg
- -33%
- Corpus placement
- #531 of 2,662
- Share of income
- 10.9%
Source: DOL National Database of Childcare Prices (2022). Median income: U.S. Census ACS 5-year.
- $6,469
- Center Infant/yr
- $7,515
- Family Infant/yr
- $59,425
- Median Income
- 10.9%
- % of Income (Infant)
Annual Childcare Costs by Age Group
| Age Group | Center-Based | Family Childcare |
|---|---|---|
| Infant | $6,469 | $7,515 |
| Toddler | $6,469 | $7,515 |
| Preschool | $5,354 | $7,252 |
| School Age | $4,660 | $5,880 |
Cost Comparison (Center-Based)
Where Hillsdale County ranks on infant-care cost
Center-based infant care, every U.S. county with reported prices
$6,469 Among the most affordable more affordable than 80% 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 Hillsdale 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 | $6,469 | $7,515 | $-1,046 (-13.9%) |
| Toddler | $6,469 | $7,515 | $-1,046 (-13.9%) |
| Preschool | $5,354 | $7,252 | $-1,898 (-26.2%) |
| School Age | $4,660 | $5,880 | $-1,220 (-20.7%) |
Across all four ages, a center path totals $22,952/year versus $28,162/year for family care ($5,210 less at a center). Infant center care runs 1.39× school-age center care here. Among the 83Michigan counties with a complete NDCP ladder, Hillsdale County ranks #16 by infant center price (1 = cheapest).
What These Numbers Mean for Hillsdale County Families
Household affordability in Hillsdale County tracks against a median income of $59,425, putting infant center care at 10.9% of gross income. HHS draws the affordability line at 7% of income, and the typical local family exceeds the federal affordability line by 3.9 points.Hillsdale 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)
Center-based infant care costs over 2008–2022 (15 years of NDCP data).
View full data table (all care types) ▼
| Year | Ctr Infant |
|---|---|
| 2008 | $6,581 |
| 2009 | $5,882 |
| 2010 | $6,323 |
| 2011 | $6,764 |
| 2012 | $6,933 |
| 2013 | $7,101 |
| 2014 | $7,205 |
| 2015 | $7,309 |
| 2016 | $7,587 |
| 2017 | $7,865 |
| 2018 | $8,143 |
| 2019 | $7,306 |
| 2020 | $6,469 |
| 2021 | $5,632 |
| 2022 | $6,469 |
What this means for Hillsdale County families
Infant center care here takes 10.9% of the typical household income - above the HHS 7% affordability line.
- At 10.9% 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
- See how Hillsdale County compares against the cheapest counties in Michigan. Cheapest in Michigan
NDCP figures are county-level survey medians for 2022, confirm current tuition and openings directly with providers and your state CCR&R agency.