Avg Infant (Center)
$20,571 /yr
Across 14 Massachusetts counties
Statewide childcare costs · DOL NDCP 2022
Childcare costs in Massachusetts
According to PlainChildcare's state ranking (DOL NDCP county averages), Massachusetts ranks #44 of 45 jurisdictions by average center-based infant care price (cheapest = #1).
Data updated 2026-09-24
- $20,571
- Avg infant (center)
- +114%
- Vs. national avg
- #44 of 45
- Corpus placement
NDCP state market brief
Massachusetts statewide sticker posture
- PRICE PEAK vs national NDCP mean
- AVG $20,571 Center infant avg
- SPREAD $13,520 County min–max gap
- RANK #44 of 45 National state rank
- COUNT 14 Reporting counties
- MIN $17,160 Cheapest county
- MAX $30,680 Priciest county
- PHOTO California Nearest avg peer
Avg-infant peers
Avg Toddler (Center)
$18,516 /yr
Center-based weighted average
Avg Preschool (Center)
$14,656 /yr
Center-based weighted average
Infant cost spread
$17,160 – $30,680
Lowest to highest county
Massachusetts center-based childcare averages by age
Annual cost averaged across all reporting counties. Source: DOL Women's Bureau NDCP 2022.
Where Massachusetts ranks on infant-care cost
Average center-based infant care, every U.S. state with reported prices
$20,571 more affordable than 2% 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 · 2026-09-24
Massachusetts infant care vs. HHS 7%-of-income affordability ceiling 100.0%
HHS 7% threshold
Bar shows Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts, starting at $17,160/yr
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Most Expensive Childcare
Counties with the highest infant care costs in Massachusetts, up to $30,680/yr
Childcare Landscape Across Massachusetts
Across Massachusetts's 14 counties with NDCP price coverage, center-based infant care averages $20,571/year (PEAK vs the national mean), toddler $18,516/year, preschool $14,656/year. The gap is wide here - infant care runs 40% above preschool, a steeper age-based curve than most states, reflecting a tighter infant staffing ratio. County stickers run $17,160 to $30,680 (Δ $13,520/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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barnstable County | $18,304 | $16,640 | $14,040 | 20.2% |
| Berkshire County | $17,160 | $15,668 | $11,973 | 24.6% |
| Bristol County | $18,304 | $16,640 | $14,040 | 22.7% |
| Dukes County | $18,304 | $16,640 | $14,040 | 19.6% |
| Essex County | $24,001 | $21,242 | $16,120 | 25.4% |
| Franklin County | $17,160 | $15,668 | $11,973 | 24.4% |
| Hampden County | $17,160 | $15,668 | $11,973 | 25.8% |
| Hampshire County | $17,160 | $15,668 | $11,973 | 20.4% |
| Middlesex County | $24,001 | $21,242 | $16,120 | 19.8% |
| Nantucket County | $18,304 | $16,640 | $14,040 | 13.5% |
| Norfolk County | $28,860 | $27,040 | $21,840 | 23.9% |
| Plymouth County | $18,304 | $16,640 | $14,040 | 17.4% |
| Suffolk County | $30,680 | $25,639 | $18,200 | 35.0% |
| Worcester County | $20,296 | $18,200 | $14,820 | 22.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does Massachusetts rank on childcare costs nationally?
Massachusetts's average center-based infant care ($20,571/yr) is cheaper than only 2% of the 45 U.S. states with reported NDCP prices (national rank #44 of 45, cheapest = #1).
Is childcare more or less expensive in Massachusetts than the national average?
Massachusetts's average infant care price runs 114% above the national NDCP average ($9,592/yr) - a PEAK band in this site's sticker scale.
Does childcare cost vary a lot within Massachusetts?
Yes - Massachusetts's 14 reporting counties range from $17,160 to $30,680/yr for infant care, a $13,520 spread.
How does childcare cost change by child age in Massachusetts?
The gap is wide here - infant care runs 40% above preschool, a steeper age-based curve than most states, reflecting a tighter infant staffing ratio.
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 September 2026. Primary sources: DOL Women's Bureau NDCP and U.S. Census Bureau ACS.