Cheapest Childcare in Maine
Thin NDCP list — 16 priced Maine counties
Ranked by reported cost only, not a quality, safety, or licensing rating. Verify licensing and inspection history directly with providers or Maine's Child Care Resource & Referral (CCR&R) agency before choosing care.
Counties with Cheapest Childcare
| # | County | Infant Care |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Franklin County | $9,100/yr |
| 2 | Oxford County | $9,100/yr |
| 3 | Aroostook County | $10,053/yr |
| 4 | Piscataquis County | $10,053/yr |
| 5 | Somerset County | $10,053/yr |
| 6 | Lincoln County | $11,007/yr |
| 7 | Sagadahoc County | $11,007/yr |
| 8 | Androscoggin County | $11,664/yr |
| 9 | Knox County | $11,700/yr |
| 10 | Waldo County | $11,700/yr |
| 11 | Hancock County | $11,908/yr |
| 12 | Washington County | $11,908/yr |
| 13 | Kennebec County | $11,960/yr |
| 14 | Cumberland County | $13,087/yr |
| 15 | Penobscot County | $13,295/yr |
| 16 | York County | $13,607/yr |
Why These Maine Counties Run Cheaper
Signature read: only 16 priced counties make this Maine cheapest board — a thin NDCP list. Lowest listed center infant price: $9,100/year, a tie between Franklin County and Oxford County vs $11,325/year state average.
Only 16 Maine counties carry a usable center infant price in NDCP for this board. Ranked by reported cost only — not quality, safety, or licensing.
Methodology
Counties sorted by lowest center-based infant care cost from DOL Women's Bureau NDCP (2022). Vs-state column uses Maine average $11,325/year.
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Women's Bureau National Database of Childcare Prices (NDCP) · 2022
DOL Women's Bureau NDCP · Maine cheapest-county board, 2022
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.