Avg Infant (Center)
$25,480 /yr
Across 1 District of Columbia counties
Statewide childcare costs · DOL NDCP 2022
Childcare costs in District of Columbia
According to PlainChildcare's state ranking (DOL NDCP county averages), District of Columbia ranks #45 of 45 jurisdictions by average center-based infant care price (cheapest = #1).
Data updated 2026-07-05
- $25,480
- Avg infant (center)
- +166%
- Vs. national avg
- #45 of 45
- Corpus placement
NDCP state market brief
District of Columbia statewide sticker posture
- PRICE PEAK vs national NDCP mean
- AVG $25,480 Center infant avg
- SPREAD $0 County min–max gap
- RANK #45 of 45 National state rank
- COUNT 1 Reporting counties
- MIN $25,480 Cheapest county
- MAX $25,480 Priciest county
- PHOTO Massachusetts Nearest avg peer
Avg-infant peers
Avg Toddler (Center)
$23,431 /yr
Center-based weighted average
Avg Preschool (Center)
$20,410 /yr
Center-based weighted average
Infant cost spread
$25,480 – $25,480
Lowest to highest county
District of Columbia center-based childcare averages by age
Annual cost averaged across all reporting counties. Source: DOL Women's Bureau NDCP 2022.
Where District of Columbia ranks on infant-care cost
Average center-based infant care, every U.S. state with reported prices
$25,480 more affordable than 0% 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
District of Columbia infant care vs. HHS 7%-of-income affordability ceiling 100.0%
HHS 7% threshold
Bar shows District of Columbia 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 District of Columbia, starting at $25,480/yr
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Most Expensive Childcare
Counties with the highest infant care costs in District of Columbia, up to $25,480/yr
Childcare Landscape Across District of Columbia
Across District of Columbia's 1 counties with NDCP price coverage, center-based infant care averages $25,480/year (PEAK vs the national mean), toddler $23,431/year, preschool $20,410/year. Costs step down gradually with age here, tracking the typical national pattern where lower infant staffing ratios drive early-years pricing higher. County stickers run $25,480 to $25,480 (Δ $0/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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $25,480 | $23,431 | $20,410 | 25.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does District of Columbia rank on childcare costs nationally?
District of Columbia's average center-based infant care ($25,480/yr) is cheaper than only 0% of the 45 U.S. states with reported NDCP prices (national rank #45 of 45, cheapest = #1).
Is childcare more or less expensive in District of Columbia than the national average?
District of Columbia's average infant care price runs 166% above the national NDCP average ($9,592/yr) - a PEAK band in this site's sticker scale.
Does childcare cost vary a lot within District of Columbia?
Yes - District of Columbia's 1 reporting counties range from $25,480 to $25,480/yr for infant care, a $0 spread.
How does childcare cost change by child age in District of Columbia?
Costs step down gradually with age here, tracking the typical national pattern where lower infant staffing ratios drive early-years pricing higher.
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.