County childcare costs · DOL NDCP 2022

Childcare costs in Iowa County, WI

Compiled by Plainchildcare Editorial, Childcare Costs Editorial Team

$9,464 a year for center-based infant care - 11.9% of the local median income, against a national average of $9,592.

All Wisconsin counties Rankings Methodology

Iowa County, WI families pay $9,464/year for center-based infant care, while family childcare is $7,800/year, based on National Database of Childcare Prices survey data from the U.S. Department of Labor. This represents 11.9% of the median household income - exceeding the HHS 7% affordability threshold. Toddler care at a center costs $8,840/year, and preschool-age care is $8,840/year.

Iowa County vs. the nation

At $9,464 a year for center-based infant care, Iowa County, WI is 1% below the national average of $9,592 - cheaper than 45% of the 2,662 U.S. counties we track, and that bill eats 11.9% of the local median income against the 7% the federal government calls affordable.

Infant care (center)
$9,464/yr: Vs. national avg
-1%: National rank
#1,430 cheapest of 2,662: Share of income
11.9%

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

$9,464
Center Infant/yr: $7,800
Family Infant/yr: $79,226
Median Income: 11.9%
% of Income (Infant)

Annual Childcare Costs by Age Group

Age Group	Center-Based	Family Childcare	Difference
Infant	$9,464	$7,800	+$1,664
Toddler	$8,840	$7,410	+$1,430
Preschool	$8,840	$7,410	+$1,430
School Age	$7,956	$7,020	+$936

Cost Comparison (Center-Based)

Infant $9,464

Toddler $8,840

Preschool $8,840

School Age $7,956

Where Iowa County ranks on infant-care cost

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

$9,464 more affordable than 45% 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

What These Numbers Mean for Iowa County Families

Household affordability in Iowa County tracks against a median income of $79,226, putting infant center care at 11.9% of gross income. The HHS benchmark is 7%, meaning the typical family here exceeds the federal affordability line by 4.9 points.Iowa 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)

Here's how center-based infant care priced out from 2008 to 2022, across 15 years of NDCP survey data.

+30.8% since 2008

Infant center care: $7,233 → $9,464

$9,464/yr

Most recent annual cost (2022)

15 years

Data available (2008–2022)

2008

$7,233

2009

$7,740

2010

$9,620

2011

$7,800

2012

$9,620

2013

$8,680

2014

$7,740

2015

$9,481

2016

$9,525

2017

$9,568

2018

$8,840

2019

$8,996

2020

$9,152

2021

$9,308

2022

$9,464

View full data table (all care types) ▼

Year	Ctr Infant	Ctr Toddler	Ctr Preschool	Ctr School Age	Fam Infant	Fam Toddler
2008	$7,233	$7,758	$7,758	$7,280	$6,500	$6,500
2009	$7,740	$7,166	$7,166	$7,166	$6,500	$6,500
2010	$9,620	$8,840	$8,840	$5,720	$5,200	$5,200
2011	$7,800	$7,800	$7,800	$7,800	$6,240	$5,980
2012	$9,620	$8,840	$8,840	$5,720	$7,800	$7,020
2013	$8,680	$8,003	$8,003	$6,443	$7,800	$7,150
2014	$7,740	$7,166	$7,166	$7,166	$7,800	$7,280
2015	$9,481	$8,296	$8,296	$8,296	$7,800	$7,800
2016	$9,525	$8,308	$8,308	$8,308	$7,410	$7,150
2017	$9,568	$8,320	$8,320	$8,320	$7,020	$6,500
2018	$8,840	$8,320	$8,320	$7,800	$7,280	$6,760
2019	$8,996	$8,450	$8,450	$7,839	$7,410	$6,923
2020	$9,152	$8,580	$8,580	$7,878	$7,540	$7,085
2021	$9,308	$8,710	$8,710	$7,917	$7,670	$7,248
2022	$9,464	$8,840	$8,840	$7,956	$7,800	$7,410

What this means for Iowa County families

Infant center care here takes 11.9% of the typical household income - above the HHS 7% affordability line.

At 11.9% 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
Family childcare homes run $7,800/year for infants, about $1,664 less than a center. Weigh the trade-offs of each setting. Center vs. home care
See how Iowa County compares against the cheapest counties in Wisconsin. Cheapest in Wisconsin

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 Iowa County, WI? ▼

Iowa County, WI's center-based infant care rate is $9,464/year. Family childcare for infants comes in at $7,800/year, while center-based preschool is $8,840/year.

Is childcare affordable in Iowa County, WI? ▼

In Iowa County, WI, families spend 11.9% of the $79,226 median household income on center-based infant care. HHS calls anything above 7% unaffordable. Childcare here exceeds the affordability threshold by 4.9 percentage points.

Are childcare costs rising in Iowa County, WI? ▼

From 2022 to 2008, center-based infant care in Iowa County, WI changed from $9,464 to $7,233 (-23.6%).

What is the cheapest childcare option in Iowa County, WI? ▼

In Iowa County, WI, a family childcare home is the cheaper preschool option: $7,410/year versus $8,840/year at a center, saving $1,430/year. Family settings typically mean fewer children per caregiver.

How much does before- and after-school care cost in Iowa County, WI? ▼

Before- and after-school programs for ages 6-12 run $7,956/year at a center in Iowa County, WI and $7,020/year for family childcare. That covers before-school drop-off, after-school pickup, and summer coverage for working parents.