Avg Infant (Center)
$17,127 /yr
Across 8 Connecticut counties
Statewide childcare costs · DOL NDCP 2022
Childcare costs in Connecticut
According to PlainChildcare's state ranking (DOL NDCP county averages), Connecticut ranks #42 of 45 jurisdictions by average center-based infant care price (cheapest = #1).
Data updated 2026-07-05
- $17,127
- Avg infant (center)
- +79%
- Vs. national avg
- #42 of 45
- Corpus placement
NDCP state market brief
Connecticut statewide sticker posture
- PRICE STEEP vs national NDCP mean
- AVG $17,127 Center infant avg
- SPREAD $7,020 County min–max gap
- RANK #42 of 45 National state rank
- COUNT 8 Reporting counties
- MIN $15,080 Cheapest county
- MAX $22,100 Priciest county
- PHOTO California Nearest avg peer
Avg-infant peers
Avg Toddler (Center)
$17,127 /yr
Center-based weighted average
Avg Preschool (Center)
$13,559 /yr
Center-based weighted average
Infant cost spread
$15,080 – $22,100
Lowest to highest county
Connecticut center-based childcare averages by age
Annual cost averaged across all reporting counties. Source: DOL Women's Bureau NDCP 2022.
Where Connecticut ranks on infant-care cost
Average center-based infant care, every U.S. state with reported prices
$17,127 more affordable than 7% of 45 US states
Each bar is a $2.5K-wide band; taller bars hold more US states. 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 · 2026-07-05
Connecticut infant care vs. HHS 7%-of-income affordability ceiling 100.0%
HHS 7% threshold
Bar shows Connecticut infant care as a share of an $80,000 reference household income. The dark marker shows the HHS 7% threshold, anything past it is officially "unaffordable" by federal definition.
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Cheapest Childcare
Counties with the lowest infant care costs in Connecticut, starting at $15,080/yr
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Most Expensive Childcare
Counties with the highest infant care costs in Connecticut, up to $22,100/yr
Childcare Landscape Across Connecticut
Across Connecticut's 8 counties with NDCP price coverage, center-based infant care averages $17,127/year (STEEP vs the national mean), toddler $17,127/year, preschool $13,559/year. Connecticut's age-tier pricing doesn't follow the smooth step-down most states show between infant, toddler, and preschool care. County stickers run $15,080 to $22,100 (Δ $7,020/yr). Licensing ratios and background checks are uniform statewide; density and subsidy acceptance are not - use the county table and Read-with drills below, not a clone licensing essay.
Counties
| County | Infant /yr | Toddler /yr | Preschool /yr | % of income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fairfield County | $22,100 | $22,100 | $15,912 | 20.7% |
| Hartford County | $17,160 | $17,160 | $13,000 | 20.2% |
| Litchfield County | $16,120 | $16,120 | $13,260 | 18.0% |
| Middlesex County | $18,200 | $18,200 | $14,820 | 19.0% |
| New Haven County | $18,200 | $18,200 | $14,820 | 23.0% |
| New London County | $15,080 | $15,080 | $12,220 | 18.1% |
| Tolland County | $15,080 | $15,080 | $12,220 | 16.1% |
| Windham County | $15,080 | $15,080 | $12,220 | 20.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does Connecticut rank on childcare costs nationally?
Connecticut's average center-based infant care ($17,127/yr) is cheaper than only 7% of the 45 U.S. states with reported NDCP prices (national rank #42 of 45, cheapest = #1).
Is childcare more or less expensive in Connecticut than the national average?
Connecticut's average infant care price runs 79% above the national NDCP average ($9,592/yr) - a STEEP band in this site's sticker scale.
Does childcare cost vary a lot within Connecticut?
Yes - Connecticut's 8 reporting counties range from $15,080 to $22,100/yr for infant care, a $7,020 spread.
How does childcare cost change by child age in Connecticut?
Connecticut's age-tier pricing doesn't follow the smooth step-down most states show between infant, toddler, and preschool care.
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Women's Bureau, National Database of Childcare Prices (NDCP). Costs shown are annual estimates
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
PlainChildcare is rendered directly from the U.S. Department of Labor Women's Bureau National Database of Childcare Prices and Census ACS income data, no number is typed in by an editor. State averages and county ranks are computed from the NDCP price tables joined to ACS median household income. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of July 2026. Primary sources: DOL Women's Bureau NDCP and U.S. Census Bureau ACS.