Most Expensive Childcare in Iowa
Counties ranked by highest center-based infant care cost
Ranked by reported cost only, not a quality, safety, or licensing rating. A higher price does not imply better care; verify licensing and inspection history directly with providers or Iowa's Child Care Resource & Referral (CCR&R) agency before choosing care.
Counties with Most Expensive Childcare
| # | County | Infant Care |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dallas County | $9,642/yr |
| 2 | Polk County | $9,220/yr |
| 3 | Johnson County | $9,183/yr |
| 4 | Story County | $8,858/yr |
| 5 | Warren County | $8,804/yr |
| 6 | Madison County | $8,763/yr |
| 7 | Pottawattamie County | $8,758/yr |
| 8 | Scott County | $8,750/yr |
| 9 | Black Hawk County | $8,747/yr |
| 10 | Davis County | $8,692/yr |
| 11 | Muscatine County | $8,691/yr |
| 12 | Cedar County | $8,675/yr |
| 13 | Dubuque County | $8,640/yr |
| 14 | Harrison County | $8,634/yr |
| 15 | Linn County | $8,631/yr |
| 16 | Woodbury County | $8,623/yr |
| 17 | Tama County | $8,623/yr |
| 18 | Dickinson County | $8,605/yr |
| 19 | Wapello County | $8,560/yr |
| 20 | Guthrie County | $8,534/yr |
| 21 | Shelby County | $8,524/yr |
| 22 | Lyon County | $8,486/yr |
| 23 | Adams County | $8,484/yr |
| 24 | Des Moines County | $8,483/yr |
| 25 | Hancock County | $8,481/yr |
| 26 | Benton County | $8,479/yr |
| 27 | Boone County | $8,462/yr |
| 28 | Mills County | $8,459/yr |
| 29 | Marion County | $8,434/yr |
| 30 | Washington County | $8,433/yr |
| 31 | Fayette County | $8,425/yr |
| 32 | Grundy County | $8,406/yr |
| 33 | Poweshiek County | $8,396/yr |
| 34 | Louisa County | $8,388/yr |
| 35 | Chickasaw County | $8,382/yr |
| 36 | Monona County | $8,379/yr |
| 37 | Marshall County | $8,379/yr |
| 38 | Hardin County | $8,370/yr |
| 39 | Plymouth County | $8,367/yr |
| 40 | Butler County | $8,365/yr |
| 41 | Hamilton County | $8,356/yr |
| 42 | Delaware County | $8,353/yr |
| 43 | Iowa County | $8,328/yr |
| 44 | Keokuk County | $8,325/yr |
| 45 | Jefferson County | $8,322/yr |
| 46 | Greene County | $8,310/yr |
| 47 | Sioux County | $8,309/yr |
| 48 | Clayton County | $8,308/yr |
| 49 | Jasper County | $8,304/yr |
| 50 | Pocahontas County | $8,302/yr |
Low-avg state, local ceiling counties
Signature read: Iowa's $8,306 state infant average sits in the lower third of priced states (#13 of 45). Highest listed center infant price: Dallas County at $9,642/year vs $8,306/year state average. Toddler $8,309/year · preschool $8,309/year in the same county.
All 50 priced Iowa counties on this board are sorted by center infant price, highest first (NDCP). Ranked by reported cost only — not quality, safety, or licensing.
Methodology
Counties sorted by highest center-based infant care cost from DOL Women's Bureau NDCP (2022). Vs-state column uses Iowa average $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 costliest-county board, 2022
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.