Avg Infant (Center)
$11,172 /yr
Across 3 Delaware counties
Statewide childcare costs · DOL NDCP 2022
Childcare costs in Delaware
According to PlainChildcare's state ranking (DOL NDCP county averages), Delaware ranks #23 of 45 jurisdictions by average center-based infant care price (cheapest = #1).
Data updated 2026-07-05
- $11,172
- Avg infant (center)
- +16%
- Vs. national avg
- #23 of 45
- Corpus placement
NDCP state market brief
Delaware statewide sticker posture
- PRICE HIGH vs national NDCP mean
- AVG $11,172 Center infant avg
- SPREAD $5,104 County min–max gap
- RANK #23 of 45 National state rank
- COUNT 3 Reporting counties
- MIN $9,471 Cheapest county
- MAX $14,575 Priciest county
- PHOTO Wisconsin Nearest avg peer
Avg-infant peers
Avg Toddler (Center)
$8,273 /yr
Center-based weighted average
Avg Preschool (Center)
$8,657 /yr
Center-based weighted average
Infant cost spread
$9,471 – $14,575
Lowest to highest county
Delaware center-based childcare averages by age
Annual cost averaged across all reporting counties. Source: DOL Women's Bureau NDCP 2022.
Where Delaware ranks on infant-care cost
Average center-based infant care, every U.S. state with reported prices
$11,172 more affordable than 49% 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
Delaware infant care vs. HHS 7%-of-income affordability ceiling 69.8%
HHS 7% threshold
Bar shows Delaware 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 Delaware, starting at $9,471/yr
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Most Expensive Childcare
Counties with the highest infant care costs in Delaware, up to $14,575/yr
Childcare Landscape Across Delaware
Across Delaware's 3 counties with NDCP price coverage, center-based infant care averages $11,172/year (HIGH vs the national mean), toddler $8,273/year, preschool $8,657/year. Unusually, Delaware's toddler rate runs at or below its preschool rate, a reversal of the pattern most states show where cost eases as children age. County stickers run $9,471 to $14,575 (Δ $5,104/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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kent County | $9,471 | $7,230 | $7,519 | 13.7% |
| New Castle County | $14,575 | $10,359 | $10,934 | 17.1% |
| Sussex County | $9,471 | $7,230 | $7,519 | 12.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does Delaware rank on childcare costs nationally?
Delaware's average center-based infant care ($11,172/yr) is cheaper than only 49% of the 45 U.S. states with reported NDCP prices (national rank #23 of 45, cheapest = #1).
Is childcare more or less expensive in Delaware than the national average?
Delaware's average infant care price runs 16% above the national NDCP average ($9,592/yr) - a HIGH band in this site's sticker scale.
Does childcare cost vary a lot within Delaware?
Yes - Delaware's 3 reporting counties range from $9,471 to $14,575/yr for infant care, a $5,104 spread.
How does childcare cost change by child age in Delaware?
Unusually, Delaware's toddler rate runs at or below its preschool rate, a reversal of the pattern most states show where cost eases as children age.
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.