County childcare costs · DOL NDCP 2022
Childcare costs in Kent County, MI
The standout signal in Kent County, MI is the center–family premium: center infant care costs $-1,765/yr more than family care (narrow premium tercile) beside a $9,006 center sticker.
Data updated 2026-09-24
- $9,006
- Center Infant/yr
- $10,771
- Family Infant/yr
- $76,247
- Median Income
- 11.8%
- % of Income (Infant)
The verdict
Kent County pairs below-national-median infant care costs with a light income burden on families.
- Top 49%
- cheapest nationally
- Light
- income-burden tier
- Narrow
- family-vs-infant price gap
- #1,304
- of 2,661 priced counties
A center-based childcare affordability composite (infant, preschool, and school-age price burden relative to local median income) plus poverty rate, benchmarked against every other tracked county nationally. Not a rating of childcare quality, safety, or availability. Dimensions with no data on file are excluded and their weight redistributed, never counted as zero.
National sticker context: $9,593 average.
The going rate for center-based infant care in Kent County, MI is $9,006/year, while family childcare is $10,771/year, according to the U.S. Department of Labor National Database of Childcare Prices. This represents 11.8% of the median household income, exceeding the HHS 7% affordability threshold. Toddler care at a center costs $9,006/year.
Annual childcare costs by age in Kent County
| Age Group | Center-Based | Family Childcare |
|---|---|---|
| Infant | $9,006 | $10,771 |
| Toddler | $9,006 | $10,771 |
| Preschool | $7,080 | $9,659 |
| School Age | $6,160 | $7,829 |
Where Kent County ranks on infant-care cost
Center-based infant care, every U.S. county with reported prices
$9,006 more affordable than 51% of 2,661 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
Kent County vs. every other Michigan county: income vs. infant-care cost
Median household income (x) vs. average center-based infant care (y) across 30 Michigan counties with reported prices. Crosshairs at the Michigan median.
Within Michigan, Kent County has higher income and higher infant-care cost than the typical Michigan county (its national standing, below-national-median infant care costs, is a separate comparison against every U.S. county, not just its own state).
Full NDCP Care Ladder in Kent County
Every age×setting NDCP cell is reported here (PAR / OVER7 · mid-price), center premium and age-step are county-specific.
| Age | Center | Family | Center premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Infant | $9,006 | $10,771 | $-1,765 (-16.4%) |
| Toddler | $9,006 | $10,771 | $-1,765 (-16.4%) |
| Preschool | $7,080 | $9,659 | $-2,579 (-26.7%) |
| School Age | $6,160 | $7,829 | $-1,669 (-21.3%) |
Across all four ages, a center path totals $31,252/year versus $39,030/year for family care ($7,778 less at a center). Infant center care runs 1.46× school-age center care here. Among the 83Michigan counties with a complete NDCP ladder, Kent County ranks #74 by infant center price (1 = cheapest).
Kent County premium reading
The standout signal in Kent County, MI is the center–family premium: center infant care costs $-1,765/yr more than family care (narrow premium tercile) beside a $9,006 center sticker.
Light-burden tercile reading: Kent County keeps infant center care at 11.8% of a $76,247 median (OVER7). Sticker still matters (PAR), but income share is not the binding constraint versus waitlists and licensed capacity.
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)
The NDCP has tracked center-based infant care here for 15 years, from 2008 through 2022.
View full data table (all care types) ▼
| Year | Ctr Infant |
|---|---|
| 2008 | $7,939 |
| 2009 | $7,299 |
| 2010 | $7,831 |
| 2011 | $8,363 |
| 2012 | $8,649 |
| 2013 | $8,935 |
| 2014 | $9,195 |
| 2015 | $9,455 |
| 2016 | $9,946 |
| 2017 | $10,435 |
| 2018 | $10,926 |
| 2019 | $9,966 |
| 2020 | $9,006 |
| 2021 | $8,047 |
| 2022 | $9,006 |
Nearest infant-price counties in Michigan
Ordered by ABS(center_infant) to Kent County's PAR NDCP sticker - not A-Z chrome.
What to do with Kent County
Infant center care here runs 11.8% of the local median income (OVER7), check where your own household lands.
- Kent County spends 11.8% of median income on infant center care, above the HHS 7%-of-income affordability line. See exactly where your own household income lands. Affordability calculator
- $9,006/yr center infant sticker (PAR) - see how Kent County compares against the full national ladder. National rankings
- If care is straining the budget, federal and state programs (CCDF, Head Start) can cut it sharply. Check whether Kent County families are likely eligible. Check subsidy eligibility
Figures are NDCP county-level survey medians for 2022 - your local providers set the actual price.