Cheapest Childcare in Iowa
Counties ranked by lowest center-based infant care cost
Ranked by reported cost only, not a quality, safety, or licensing rating. Verify licensing and inspection history directly with providers or Iowa's Child Care Resource & Referral (CCR&R) agency before choosing care.
Counties with Cheapest Childcare
| # | County | Infant Care |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Floyd County | $7,703/yr |
| 2 | Palo Alto County | $7,736/yr |
| 3 | Cherokee County | $7,796/yr |
| 4 | Humboldt County | $7,830/yr |
| 5 | Winnebago County | $7,836/yr |
| 6 | Decatur County | $7,911/yr |
| 7 | O'Brien County | $7,914/yr |
| 8 | Cass County | $7,922/yr |
| 9 | Jones County | $7,936/yr |
| 10 | Clarke County | $7,938/yr |
| 11 | Wayne County | $7,939/yr |
| 12 | Union County | $7,945/yr |
| 13 | Carroll County | $7,946/yr |
| 14 | Franklin County | $7,953/yr |
| 15 | Howard County | $7,963/yr |
| 16 | Sac County | $7,968/yr |
| 17 | Montgomery County | $7,983/yr |
| 18 | Taylor County | $8,001/yr |
| 19 | Mitchell County | $8,009/yr |
| 20 | Wright County | $8,012/yr |
| 21 | Emmet County | $8,015/yr |
| 22 | Henry County | $8,016/yr |
| 23 | Ida County | $8,022/yr |
| 24 | Crawford County | $8,027/yr |
| 25 | Jackson County | $8,043/yr |
| 26 | Page County | $8,046/yr |
| 27 | Van Buren County | $8,050/yr |
| 28 | Monroe County | $8,061/yr |
| 29 | Appanoose County | $8,062/yr |
| 30 | Webster County | $8,091/yr |
| 31 | Clay County | $8,092/yr |
| 32 | Winneshiek County | $8,151/yr |
| 33 | Lucas County | $8,164/yr |
| 34 | Lee County | $8,170/yr |
| 35 | Mahaska County | $8,171/yr |
| 36 | Worth County | $8,176/yr |
| 37 | Buena Vista County | $8,186/yr |
| 38 | Calhoun County | $8,194/yr |
| 39 | Ringgold County | $8,213/yr |
| 40 | Clinton County | $8,223/yr |
| 41 | Fremont County | $8,251/yr |
| 42 | Buchanan County | $8,252/yr |
| 43 | Allamakee County | $8,267/yr |
| 44 | Osceola County | $8,269/yr |
| 45 | Adair County | $8,271/yr |
| 46 | Audubon County | $8,274/yr |
| 47 | Bremer County | $8,283/yr |
| 48 | Cerro Gordo County | $8,285/yr |
| 49 | Kossuth County | $8,301/yr |
| 50 | Pocahontas County | $8,302/yr |
Narrow floor gap inside Iowa
Signature read: Iowa's $8,306 state infant average sits in the lower third of priced states (#13 of 45). Lowest listed center infant price: Floyd County at $7,703/year vs $8,306/year state average. Toddler $6,638/year · preschool $6,638/year in the same county.
All 50 priced Iowa counties on this board are sorted by center infant price (NDCP). Ranked by reported cost only — not quality, safety, or licensing.
Methodology
Low-avg state board: counties sorted by NDCP center infant cost (2022); state benchmark $8,306/year.
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Women's Bureau National Database of Childcare Prices (NDCP) · 2022
DOL Women's Bureau NDCP · Iowa cheapest-county board, 2022
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.