County childcare costs · DOL NDCP 2022

Childcare costs in Hudson County, NJ

$16,758 a year for center-based infant care - 19.3% of the local median income, against a national average of $9,592.

Center-based infant care in Hudson County, NJ costs $16,758/year, while family childcare is $10,451/year, per the U.S. Department of Labor's National Database of Childcare Prices (NDCP). This represents 19.3% of the median household income - exceeding the HHS 7% affordability threshold. Toddler care at a center costs $16,206/year, and preschool-age care is $16,206/year.

Hudson County vs. the nation

According to PlainChildcare's center-based infant-care ranking (DOL NDCP priced counties), Hudson County, NJ ranks #2,526 of 2,662 U.S. counties by annual center infant price (cheapest = #1). Center-based infant care costs $16,758 a year in Hudson County, NJ, coming in 75% above the nationwide average of $9,592 - cheaper than 5% of the 2,662 U.S. counties we track, and that bill eats 19.3% of the local median income against the 7% the federal government calls affordable.

Infant care (center)
$16,758/yr
Vs. national avg
+75%
Corpus placement
#2,526 of 2,662
Share of income
19.3%

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

$16,758
Center Infant/yr
$10,451
Family Infant/yr
$86,854
Median Income
19.3%
% of Income (Infant)

Annual Childcare Costs by Age Group

Age Group Center-Based Family Childcare
Infant $16,758 $10,451
Toddler $16,206 $10,784
Preschool $16,206 $10,116
School Age $7,895 $8,781

Cost Comparison (Center-Based)

Infant $16,758
Toddler $16,206
Preschool $16,206
School Age $7,895

Where Hudson County ranks on infant-care cost

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

$16,758 more affordable than 5% 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 Hudson 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 $16,758 $10,451 +$6,307 (+60.3%)
Toddler $16,206 $10,784 +$5,422 (+50.3%)
Preschool $16,206 $10,116 +$6,090 (+60.2%)
School Age $7,895 $8,781 $-886 (-10.1%)

Across all four ages, a center path totals $57,065/year versus $40,132/year for family care ($16,933 more at a center). Infant center care runs 2.12× school-age center care here. Among the 21New Jersey counties with a complete NDCP ladder, Hudson County ranks #19 by infant center price (1 = cheapest).

What These Numbers Mean for Hudson County Families

Household affordability in Hudson County tracks against a median income of $86,854, putting infant center care at 19.3% of gross income. Against the federal 7% affordability benchmark, the typical family here exceeds the federal affordability line by 12.3 points.Between 15-20% of income, Hudson 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.

15 years of federal survey data (2008–2022) show how center-based infant care has moved.

+66.4% since 2008
Infant center care: $10,068 → $16,758
$16,758/yr
Most recent annual cost (2022)
15 years
Data available (2008–2022)
2008
$10,068
2009
$10,068
2010
$10,068
2011
$10,130
2012
$10,191
2013
$9,905
2014
$9,619
2015
$9,334
2016
$9,048
2017
$10,333
2018
$11,618
2019
$12,903
2020
$14,188
2021
$15,473
2022
$16,758
View full data table (all care types)
Year Ctr Infant
2008 $10,068
2009 $10,068
2010 $10,068
2011 $10,130
2012 $10,191
2013 $9,905
2014 $9,619
2015 $9,334
2016 $9,048
2017 $10,333
2018 $11,618
2019 $12,903
2020 $14,188
2021 $15,473
2022 $16,758

What this means for Hudson County families

Infant center care here takes 19.3% of the typical household income - above the HHS 7% affordability line.

  • At 19.3% 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 $10,451/year for infants, about $6,307 less than a center. Weigh the trade-offs of each setting. Center vs. home care
  • See how Hudson County compares against the cheapest counties in New Jersey. Cheapest in New Jersey

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 Hudson County, NJ?
Center-based infant care runs $16,758/year in Hudson County, NJ. Infants in a family childcare setting cost $10,451/year, and preschool-age center care is $16,206/year.
Is childcare affordable in Hudson County, NJ?
Hudson County, NJ's median household income is $86,854; center-based infant care eats 19.3% of that. The federal affordability line is 7%. Childcare here exceeds the affordability threshold by 12.3 percentage points.
Are childcare costs rising in Hudson County, NJ?
From 2022 to 2008, center-based infant care in Hudson County, NJ changed from $16,758 to $10,068 (-39.9%).
What is the cheapest childcare option in Hudson County, NJ?
The lowest-cost preschool option in Hudson County, NJ is family childcare, at $10,116/year against $16,206/year for a center, $6,090/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 Hudson County, NJ?
School-age childcare (ages 6-12) in Hudson County, NJ costs $7,895/year for center-based care and $8,781/year for family childcare. These costs cover before-school, after-school, and summer programs while parents work.