Cheapest Childcare in Illinois
Floor county 45% below the Illinois infant average
Ranked by reported cost only, not a quality, safety, or licensing rating. Verify licensing and inspection history directly with providers or Illinois's Child Care Resource & Referral (CCR&R) agency before choosing care.
Counties with Cheapest Childcare
| # | County | Infant Care |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hamilton County | $6,801/yr |
| 2 | Effingham County | $7,872/yr |
| 3 | Fayette County | $7,990/yr |
| 4 | Christian County | $8,083/yr |
| 5 | McDonough County | $8,496/yr |
| 6 | Marion County | $8,562/yr |
| 7 | Coles County | $8,995/yr |
| 8 | Vermilion County | $9,227/yr |
| 9 | Perry County | $9,227/yr |
| 10 | Livingston County | $9,227/yr |
| 11 | Clinton County | $9,560/yr |
| 12 | Mercer County | $9,574/yr |
| 13 | Fulton County | $9,591/yr |
| 14 | Menard County | $9,865/yr |
| 15 | Moultrie County | $9,921/yr |
| 16 | Montgomery County | $9,921/yr |
| 17 | Franklin County | $9,921/yr |
| 18 | Bond County | $9,921/yr |
| 19 | Sangamon County | $10,185/yr |
| 20 | Macoupin County | $10,267/yr |
| 21 | Monroe County | $10,435/yr |
| 22 | Kankakee County | $10,487/yr |
| 23 | Bureau County | $10,773/yr |
| 24 | Adams County | $11,134/yr |
| 25 | Saline County | $11,654/yr |
| 26 | Morgan County | $11,727/yr |
| 27 | Henry County | $11,796/yr |
| 28 | Randolph County | $12,001/yr |
| 29 | Macon County | $12,008/yr |
| 30 | Whiteside County | $12,289/yr |
| 31 | St. Clair County | $12,376/yr |
| 32 | Lee County | $12,694/yr |
| 33 | Jefferson County | $12,694/yr |
| 34 | Ogle County | $13,260/yr |
| 35 | Williamson County | $13,734/yr |
| 36 | White County | $13,734/yr |
| 37 | Wayne County | $13,734/yr |
| 38 | LaSalle County | $13,734/yr |
| 39 | Jackson County | $13,734/yr |
| 40 | Grundy County | $13,734/yr |
| 41 | Woodford County | $13,891/yr |
| 42 | Cook County | $14,473/yr |
| 43 | Peoria County | $14,487/yr |
| 44 | Tazewell County | $14,577/yr |
| 45 | Winnebago County | $14,647/yr |
| 46 | Rock Island County | $14,647/yr |
| 47 | Kendall County | $14,868/yr |
| 48 | Madison County | $14,993/yr |
| 49 | Boone County | $14,993/yr |
| 50 | DeKalb County | $15,222/yr |
Deep floor gap inside Illinois
Signature read: the #1 county sits 45% below the Illinois infant average — a deep in-state floor gap on this NDCP list. Hamilton County posts $6,801/year — 45% under the $12,257 state average — with toddler $5,460 and preschool $5,807.
All 50 priced Illinois counties on this board are sorted by center infant price (NDCP). Ranked by reported cost only — not quality, safety, or licensing.
Methodology
Deep-gap board: counties sorted by NDCP center infant cost (2022); floor vs $12,257/year Illinois average.
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Women's Bureau National Database of Childcare Prices (NDCP) · 2022
DOL Women's Bureau NDCP · Illinois cheapest-county board, 2022
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.