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Childcare Costs in Santa Cruz County, CA

FIPS: 06087 · Data year: 2022

$24,798

Center Infant/yr

$21,200

Family Infant/yr

$104,409

Median Income

23.8%

% of Income (Infant)

Annual Childcare Costs by Age Group

Age Group	Center-Based	Family Childcare	Difference
Infant	$24,798	$21,200	+$3,598
Toddler	$16,941	$17,399	$-458
Preschool	$13,292	$16,324	$-3,032
School Age	$7,396	$11,789	$-4,393

Cost Comparison (Center-Based)

Infant $24,798

Toddler $16,941

Preschool $13,292

School Age $7,396

Affordability Context

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services considers childcare affordable when it costs no more than 7% of a family's income.

Center infant cost: $24,798

Median household income: $104,409

Cost as % of income: 23.8%

7% affordability threshold: $7,309/year

Cost History (Center-Based Infant)

Year	Infant	Toddler	Preschool	School Age
2008	$16,354	$11,081	$11,081	$7,786
2009	$17,063	$11,979	$11,979	$8,544
2010	$16,871	$12,147	$12,147	$9,303
2011	$16,679	$12,315	$12,315	$10,063
2012	$16,487	$12,483	$12,483	$10,822
2013	$16,166	$11,965	$11,965	$9,810
2014	$15,844	$11,447	$11,447	$8,797
2015	$17,025	$12,279	$12,279	$9,648
2016	$18,206	$13,111	$13,111	$10,498
2017	$17,961	$12,817	$12,817	$10,877
2018	$17,717	$12,523	$12,523	$11,256
2019	$17,473	$12,229	$12,229	$11,636
2020	$17,228	$11,935	$11,935	$12,015
2021	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
2022	$24,798	$16,941	$13,292	$7,396

More Data for Santa Cruz County

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Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Women's Bureau — National Database of Childcare Prices (NDCP). Costs are annual estimates based on weekly median prices.