Most Expensive Childcare in North Carolina
Ceiling county 95% above the North Carolina infant average
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 North Carolina's Child Care Resource & Referral (CCR&R) agency before choosing care.
Counties with Most Expensive Childcare
| # | County | Infant Care |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Orange County | $18,453/yr |
| 2 | Durham County | $16,487/yr |
| 3 | Wake County | $15,979/yr |
| 4 | Mecklenburg County | $14,774/yr |
| 5 | Cabarrus County | $13,392/yr |
| 6 | Union County | $12,906/yr |
| 7 | Avery County | $12,352/yr |
| 8 | Dare County | $11,967/yr |
| 9 | Chatham County | $11,834/yr |
| 10 | Guilford County | $11,779/yr |
| 11 | Iredell County | $11,601/yr |
| 12 | New Hanover County | $11,601/yr |
| 13 | Johnston County | $11,255/yr |
| 14 | Cherokee County | $10,864/yr |
| 15 | Clay County | $10,864/yr |
| 16 | Gates County | $10,864/yr |
| 17 | Davie County | $10,828/yr |
| 18 | Pitt County | $10,828/yr |
| 19 | Haywood County | $10,572/yr |
| 20 | Caswell County | $10,531/yr |
| 21 | Forsyth County | $10,531/yr |
| 22 | Onslow County | $10,531/yr |
| 23 | Craven County | $10,417/yr |
| 24 | Franklin County | $10,411/yr |
| 25 | Granville County | $10,411/yr |
| 26 | Pender County | $10,371/yr |
| 27 | Rowan County | $10,352/yr |
| 28 | Carteret County | $10,339/yr |
| 29 | Lincoln County | $10,258/yr |
| 30 | Perquimans County | $10,246/yr |
| 31 | Harnett County | $10,233/yr |
| 32 | Northampton County | $10,129/yr |
| 33 | Yancey County | $10,129/yr |
| 34 | Henderson County | $10,114/yr |
| 35 | Randolph County | $9,935/yr |
| 36 | Buncombe County | $9,920/yr |
| 37 | Edgecombe County | $9,904/yr |
| 38 | Moore County | $9,817/yr |
| 39 | Transylvania County | $9,791/yr |
| 40 | Stanly County | $9,677/yr |
| 41 | Beaufort County | $9,631/yr |
| 42 | Brunswick County | $9,560/yr |
| 43 | Cumberland County | $9,535/yr |
| 44 | Wilkes County | $9,524/yr |
| 45 | Catawba County | $9,519/yr |
| 46 | Pamlico County | $9,511/yr |
| 47 | Martin County | $9,445/yr |
| 48 | Camden County | $9,404/yr |
| 49 | Jackson County | $9,404/yr |
| 50 | Burke County | $9,403/yr |
Steep ceiling gap inside North Carolina
Signature read: the #1 county sits 95% above the North Carolina infant average — a steep in-state ceiling gap on this NDCP list. Orange County posts $18,453/year — 95% over the $9,487 state average — with toddler $15,202 and preschool $10,326.
All 50 priced North Carolina counties on this board are sorted by center infant price, highest first (NDCP). Ranked by reported cost only — not quality, safety, or licensing.
Methodology
Steep-gap board: counties sorted by NDCP center infant cost (2022); ceiling vs $9,487/year North Carolina average.
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Women's Bureau National Database of Childcare Prices (NDCP) · 2022
DOL Women's Bureau NDCP · North Carolina costliest-county board, 2022
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.