County childcare costs · DOL NDCP 2022

Childcare costs in St. Croix County, WI

Compiled by Plainchildcare Editorial, Childcare Costs Editorial Team

$10,920 a year for center-based infant care - 11.1% of the local median income, against a national average of $9,592.

All Wisconsin counties Rankings Methodology

The going rate for center-based infant care in St. Croix County, WI is $10,920/year, while family childcare is $8,060/year, based on National Database of Childcare Prices survey data from the U.S. Department of Labor. This represents 11.1% of the median household income - exceeding the HHS 7% affordability threshold. Toddler care at a center costs $9,880/year, and preschool-age care is $9,880/year.

St. Croix County vs. the nation

Center-based infant care costs $10,920 a year in St. Croix County, WI, coming in 14% above the nationwide average of $9,592 - cheaper than 28% of the 2,662 U.S. counties we track, and that bill eats 11.1% of the local median income against the 7% the federal government calls affordable.

Infant care (center)
$10,920/yr: Vs. national avg
+14%: National rank
#1,905 cheapest of 2,662: Share of income
11.1%

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

$10,920
Center Infant/yr: $8,060
Family Infant/yr: $97,950
Median Income: 11.1%
% of Income (Infant)

Annual Childcare Costs by Age Group

Age Group	Center-Based	Family Childcare	Difference
Infant	$10,920	$8,060	+$2,860
Toddler	$9,880	$7,800	+$2,080
Preschool	$9,880	$7,800	+$2,080
School Age	$8,528	$7,280	+$1,248

Cost Comparison (Center-Based)

Infant $10,920

Toddler $9,880

Preschool $9,880

School Age $8,528

Where St. Croix County ranks on infant-care cost

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

$10,920 more affordable than 28% 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 St. Croix County Families

Weighed against a $97,950 median household income, St. Croix County's childcare bill tells an affordability story, putting infant center care at 11.1% of gross income. Against the federal 7% affordability benchmark, the typical family here exceeds the federal affordability line by 4.1 points.St. Croix 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).

+10.5% since 2008

Infant center care: $9,880 → $10,920

$10,920/yr

Most recent annual cost (2022)

15 years

Data available (2008–2022)

2008

$9,880

2009

$10,140

2010

$10,296

2011

$9,360

2012

$10,816

2013

$10,868

2014

$10,920

2015

$10,764

2016

$10,712

2017

$10,660

2018

$11,440

2019

$11,310

2020

$11,180

2021

$11,050

2022

$10,920

View full data table (all care types) ▼

Year	Ctr Infant	Ctr Toddler	Ctr Preschool	Ctr School Age	Fam Infant	Fam Toddler
2008	$9,880	$9,360	$9,360	$7,436	$7,540	$7,280
2009	$10,140	$9,360	$9,360	$7,800	$7,540	$7,280
2010	$10,296	$9,724	$9,724	$7,540	$7,540	$7,280
2011	$9,360	$8,320	$8,320	$7,280	$7,280	$7,020
2012	$10,816	$10,296	$10,296	$7,540	$7,540	$7,280
2013	$10,868	$10,348	$10,348	$7,670	$7,670	$7,410
2014	$10,920	$10,400	$10,400	$7,800	$7,800	$7,540
2015	$10,764	$9,620	$9,620	$7,020	$7,800	$7,800
2016	$10,712	$9,750	$9,750	$7,462	$7,800	$7,800
2017	$10,660	$9,880	$9,880	$7,904	$7,800	$7,800
2018	$11,440	$10,296	$10,296	$8,320	$9,360	$8,060
2019	$11,310	$10,192	$10,192	$8,372	$9,035	$7,995
2020	$11,180	$10,088	$10,088	$8,424	$8,710	$7,930
2021	$11,050	$9,984	$9,984	$8,476	$8,385	$7,865
2022	$10,920	$9,880	$9,880	$8,528	$8,060	$7,800

What this means for St. Croix County families

Infant center care here takes 11.1% of the typical household income - above the HHS 7% affordability line.

At 11.1% 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 $8,060/year for infants, about $2,860 less than a center. Weigh the trade-offs of each setting. Center vs. home care
See how St. Croix 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 St. Croix County, WI? ▼

Center-based infant care runs $10,920/year in St. Croix County, WI. Infants in a family childcare setting cost $8,060/year, and preschool-age center care is $9,880/year.

Is childcare affordable in St. Croix County, WI? ▼

St. Croix County, WI's median household income is $97,950; center-based infant care eats 11.1% of that. The federal affordability line is 7%. Childcare here exceeds the affordability threshold by 4.1 percentage points.

Are childcare costs rising in St. Croix County, WI? ▼

From 2022 to 2008, center-based infant care in St. Croix County, WI changed from $10,920 to $9,880 (-9.5%).

What is the cheapest childcare option in St. Croix County, WI? ▼

In St. Croix County, WI, a family childcare home is the cheaper preschool option: $7,800/year versus $9,880/year at a center, saving $2,080/year. Family settings typically mean fewer children per caregiver.

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

St. Croix County, WI's school-age (6-12) center-based care costs $8,528/year and $7,280/year for family childcare. Parents use it for before-school, after-school, and summer-break supervision.