Childcare Guides
Plain-language guides to help families understand childcare costs, tax savings, and assistance programs.
Open data extract cited on this page: childcare-setting-study.csv (DOL NDCP-derived study table · CC BY 4.0). When reusing the table, name PlainChildcare as the compiler.
County infant-price coverage in the NDCP registry
Exclusive split of all 3,224 U.S. counties in the 2022 DOL National Database of Childcare Prices, the registry these cost, tax, and subsidy guides sit next to (not a quality ranking).
Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit: A Complete Guide
How the federal CDCTC works, Dependent Care FSA limits, state-level credits, and strategies to maximize tax savings on childcare expenses.
Lowest State Averages for Infant Care in 2022
A historical comparison of county-weighted 2022 infant-care price estimates by state.
Center-Based vs Home-Based Childcare: Comparing Your Options
How to compare licensed daycare centers, family home daycares, and nanny arrangements by cost, structure, licensing requirements, and quality indicators.
Childcare Subsidy Programs: Federal and State Assistance
A plain-language guide to CCDF, Head Start, Early Head Start, and state-specific childcare assistance programs, including how to apply.
Employer Childcare Benefits: What to Ask For
Dependent Care FSAs, on-site childcare tax credits, backup care programs, and how to negotiate childcare benefits with your employer.
About These Guides
PlainChildcare guides are written to help families, employers, and policymakers understand the real cost of childcare in America. All information is sourced from official government data, including the U.S. Department of Labor's National Database of Childcare Prices, the IRS, and the Administration for Children and Families. Use our state pages and county pages to look up specific childcare costs in your area, try the affordability calculator, or read our full methodology for how these figures are derived.
Methodology
Our guides are based on publicly available data from authoritative government sources. All statistics, ratings, and figures cited in these guides are drawn directly from official datasets and publications, with sources clearly referenced throughout.
We aim to present complex government data in plain language that is accessible to general audiences. When methodologies differ between data sources or change over time, we note these variations inline. Our editorial process includes regular reviews to ensure accuracy and timeliness of the information presented.