Avg Infant (Center)
$11,325 /yr
Across 16 Maine counties
Statewide childcare costs · DOL NDCP 2022
Childcare costs in Maine
According to PlainChildcare's state ranking (DOL NDCP county averages), Maine ranks #26 of 45 jurisdictions by average center-based infant care price (cheapest = #1).
Data updated 2026-07-05
- $11,325
- Avg infant (center)
- +18%
- Vs. national avg
- #26 of 45
- Corpus placement
NDCP state market brief
Maine statewide sticker posture
- PRICE HIGH vs national NDCP mean
- AVG $11,325 Center infant avg
- SPREAD $4,507 County min–max gap
- RANK #26 of 45 National state rank
- COUNT 16 Reporting counties
- MIN $9,100 Cheapest county
- MAX $13,607 Priciest county
- PHOTO Arizona Nearest avg peer
Avg-infant peers
Avg Toddler (Center)
$10,451 /yr
Center-based weighted average
Avg Preschool (Center)
$9,566 /yr
Center-based weighted average
Infant cost spread
$9,100 – $13,607
Lowest to highest county
Maine center-based childcare averages by age
Annual cost averaged across all reporting counties. Source: DOL Women's Bureau NDCP 2022.
Where Maine ranks on infant-care cost
Average center-based infant care, every U.S. state with reported prices
$11,325 more affordable than 42% 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
Maine infant care vs. HHS 7%-of-income affordability ceiling 70.8%
HHS 7% threshold
Bar shows Maine 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 Maine, starting at $9,100/yr
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Most Expensive Childcare
Counties with the highest infant care costs in Maine, up to $13,607/yr
Childcare Landscape Across Maine
Across Maine's 16 counties with NDCP price coverage, center-based infant care averages $11,325/year (HIGH vs the national mean), toddler $10,451/year, preschool $9,566/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 $9,100 to $13,607 (Δ $4,507/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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Androscoggin County | $11,664 | $11,093 | $8,927 | 18.1% |
| Aroostook County | $10,053 | $8,190 | $7,367 | 19.8% |
| Cumberland County | $13,087 | $13,087 | $13,589 | 14.9% |
| Franklin County | $9,100 | $8,493 | $8,060 | 16.0% |
| Hancock County | $11,908 | $11,908 | $10,088 | 18.6% |
| Kennebec County | $11,960 | $10,487 | $11,050 | 19.3% |
| Knox County | $11,700 | $11,353 | $10,053 | 17.0% |
| Lincoln County | $11,007 | $10,400 | $9,793 | 15.8% |
| Oxford County | $9,100 | $8,493 | $8,060 | 16.6% |
| Penobscot County | $13,295 | $10,591 | $9,793 | 22.4% |
| Piscataquis County | $10,053 | $8,190 | $7,367 | 19.4% |
| Sagadahoc County | $11,007 | $10,400 | $9,793 | 14.2% |
| Somerset County | $10,053 | $8,190 | $7,367 | 18.8% |
| Waldo County | $11,700 | $11,353 | $10,053 | 18.7% |
| Washington County | $11,908 | $11,908 | $10,088 | 23.0% |
| York County | $13,607 | $13,087 | $11,613 | 17.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does Maine rank on childcare costs nationally?
Maine's average center-based infant care ($11,325/yr) is cheaper than only 42% of the 45 U.S. states with reported NDCP prices (national rank #26 of 45, cheapest = #1).
Is childcare more or less expensive in Maine than the national average?
Maine's average infant care price runs 18% above the national NDCP average ($9,592/yr) - a HIGH band in this site's sticker scale.
Does childcare cost vary a lot within Maine?
Yes - Maine's 16 reporting counties range from $9,100 to $13,607/yr for infant care, a $4,507 spread.
How does childcare cost change by child age in Maine?
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.