Avg Infant (Center)
$7,566 /yr
Across 254 Texas counties
Statewide childcare costs · DOL NDCP 2022
Childcare costs in Texas
According to PlainChildcare's state ranking (DOL NDCP county averages), Texas ranks #10 of 45 jurisdictions by average center-based infant care price (cheapest = #1).
Data updated 2026-09-24
- $7,566
- Avg infant (center)
- -21%
- Vs. national avg
- #10 of 45
- Corpus placement
NDCP state market brief
Texas statewide sticker posture
- PRICE MID vs national NDCP mean
- AVG $7,566 Center infant avg
- SPREAD $6,032 County min–max gap
- RANK #10 of 45 National state rank
- COUNT 254 Reporting counties
- MIN $5,876 Cheapest county
- MAX $11,908 Priciest county
- PHOTO Michigan Nearest avg peer
Avg-infant peers
Avg Toddler (Center)
$7,109 /yr
Center-based weighted average
Avg Preschool (Center)
$6,926 /yr
Center-based weighted average
Infant cost spread
$5,876 – $11,908
Lowest to highest county
Texas center-based childcare averages by age
Annual cost averaged across all reporting counties. Source: DOL Women's Bureau NDCP 2022.
Where Texas ranks on infant-care cost
Average center-based infant care, every U.S. state with reported prices
$7,566 Among the most affordable more affordable than 78% 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
Texas infant care vs. HHS 7%-of-income affordability ceiling 47.3%
HHS 7% threshold
Bar shows Texas 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 Texas, starting at $5,876/yr
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Most Expensive Childcare
Counties with the highest infant care costs in Texas, up to $11,908/yr
Childcare Landscape Across Texas
Across Texas's 254 counties with NDCP price coverage, center-based infant care averages $7,566/year (MID vs the national mean), toddler $7,109/year, preschool $6,926/year. The age-based cost curve is unusually flat in Texas - infant care runs only 9% above preschool, a narrower spread than most states. County stickers run $5,876 to $11,908 (Δ $6,032/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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anderson County | $6,448 | $6,136 | $5,980 | 11.2% |
| Andrews County | $8,060 | $7,488 | $7,280 | 9.3% |
| Angelina County | $6,708 | $6,292 | $6,136 | 11.8% |
| Aransas County | $6,448 | $6,084 | $5,980 | 11.1% |
| Archer County | $6,760 | $6,344 | $6,188 | 9.7% |
| Armstrong County | $7,644 | $7,228 | $7,072 | 10.9% |
| Atascosa County | $8,892 | $8,320 | $8,112 | 13.2% |
| Austin County | $9,620 | $8,944 | $8,684 | 13.1% |
| Bailey County | $7,592 | $7,176 | $6,968 | 10.9% |
| Bandera County | $8,892 | $8,320 | $8,112 | 12.5% |
| Bastrop County | $10,504 | $9,828 | $9,516 | 13.1% |
| Baylor County | $6,760 | $6,344 | $6,188 | 12.8% |
| Bee County | $6,448 | $6,084 | $5,980 | 12.8% |
| Bell County | $6,916 | $6,552 | $6,396 | 11.0% |
| Bexar County | $8,892 | $8,320 | $8,112 | 13.2% |
| Blanco County | $10,504 | $9,828 | $9,516 | 13.2% |
| Borden County | $8,060 | $7,488 | $7,280 | 10.0% |
| Bosque County | $6,968 | $6,604 | $6,448 | 10.9% |
| Bowie County | $6,292 | $5,928 | $5,824 | 11.1% |
| Brazoria County | $9,620 | $8,944 | $8,684 | 10.5% |
| Brazos County | $8,008 | $7,540 | $7,332 | 13.9% |
| Brewster County | $6,344 | $6,032 | $5,876 | 13.3% |
| Briscoe County | $7,644 | $7,228 | $7,072 | 21.6% |
| Brooks County | $7,956 | $7,488 | $7,280 | 26.0% |
| Brown County | $6,448 | $6,084 | $5,928 | 12.0% |
| Burleson County | $8,008 | $7,540 | $7,332 | 11.2% |
| Burnet County | $10,504 | $9,828 | $9,516 | 14.7% |
| Caldwell County | $10,504 | $9,828 | $9,516 | 15.7% |
| Calhoun County | $6,448 | $6,084 | $5,980 | 10.4% |
| Callahan County | $6,448 | $6,084 | $5,928 | 10.1% |
| Cameron County | $8,008 | $7,592 | $7,436 | 16.9% |
| Camp County | $6,448 | $6,136 | $5,980 | 11.9% |
| Carson County | $7,644 | $7,228 | $7,072 | 9.2% |
| Cass County | $6,292 | $5,928 | $5,824 | 11.6% |
| Castro County | $7,644 | $7,228 | $7,072 | 12.8% |
| Chambers County | $9,620 | $8,944 | $8,684 | 9.1% |
| Cherokee County | $6,448 | $6,136 | $5,980 | 11.3% |
| Childress County | $7,644 | $7,228 | $7,072 | 13.6% |
| Clay County | $6,760 | $6,344 | $6,188 | 9.0% |
| Cochran County | $7,592 | $7,176 | $6,968 | 18.3% |
| Coke County | $5,876 | $5,512 | $5,356 | 14.6% |
| Coleman County | $6,448 | $6,084 | $5,928 | 12.6% |
| Collin County | $9,932 | $9,152 | $8,840 | 8.8% |
| Collingsworth County | $7,644 | $7,228 | $7,072 | 14.7% |
| Colorado County | $9,620 | $8,944 | $8,684 | 15.2% |
| Comal County | $8,892 | $8,320 | $8,112 | 9.5% |
| Comanche County | $6,448 | $6,084 | $5,928 | 11.2% |
| Concho County | $5,876 | $5,512 | $5,356 | 10.5% |
| Cooke County | $7,176 | $6,760 | $6,604 | 10.8% |
| Coryell County | $6,916 | $6,552 | $6,396 | 10.9% |
| Cottle County | $6,760 | $6,344 | $6,188 | 14.2% |
| Crane County | $8,060 | $7,488 | $7,280 | 11.3% |
| Crockett County | $5,876 | $5,512 | $5,356 | 9.2% |
| Crosby County | $7,592 | $7,176 | $6,968 | 15.1% |
| Culberson County | $6,344 | $6,032 | $5,876 | 17.7% |
| Dallam County | $7,644 | $7,228 | $7,072 | 10.6% |
| Dallas County | $10,088 | $9,360 | $9,100 | 14.3% |
| Dawson County | $8,060 | $7,488 | $7,280 | 17.8% |
| Deaf Smith County | $7,644 | $7,228 | $7,072 | 14.7% |
| Delta County | $6,292 | $5,928 | $5,824 | 9.2% |
| Denton County | $9,932 | $9,152 | $8,840 | 9.5% |
| DeWitt County | $6,448 | $6,084 | $5,980 | 10.6% |
| Dickens County | $7,592 | $7,176 | $6,968 | 16.3% |
| Dimmit County | $6,760 | $6,448 | $6,344 | 24.7% |
| Donley County | $7,644 | $7,228 | $7,072 | 14.8% |
| Duval County | $7,956 | $7,488 | $7,280 | 15.7% |
| Eastland County | $6,448 | $6,084 | $5,928 | 12.2% |
| Ector County | $8,060 | $7,488 | $7,280 | 11.4% |
| Edwards County | $6,760 | $6,448 | $6,344 | 16.6% |
| El Paso County | $6,344 | $6,032 | $5,876 | 11.4% |
| Ellis County | $9,932 | $9,152 | $8,840 | 10.7% |
| Erath County | $9,932 | $9,152 | $8,840 | 16.6% |
| Falls County | $6,968 | $6,604 | $6,448 | 15.4% |
| Fannin County | $7,176 | $6,760 | $6,604 | 10.9% |
| Fayette County | $10,504 | $9,828 | $9,516 | 14.4% |
| Fisher County | $6,448 | $6,084 | $5,928 | 10.7% |
| Floyd County | $7,592 | $7,176 | $6,968 | 15.4% |
| Foard County | $6,760 | $6,344 | $6,188 | 16.1% |
| Fort Bend County | $9,620 | $8,944 | $8,684 | 8.7% |
| Franklin County | $6,292 | $5,928 | $5,824 | 9.3% |
| Freestone County | $6,968 | $6,604 | $6,448 | 12.5% |
| Frio County | $8,892 | $8,320 | $8,112 | 15.9% |
| Gaines County | $8,060 | $7,488 | $7,280 | 11.0% |
| Galveston County | $9,620 | $8,944 | $8,684 | 11.5% |
| Garza County | $7,592 | $7,176 | $6,968 | 13.5% |
| Gillespie County | $8,892 | $8,320 | $8,112 | 12.7% |
| Glasscock County | $8,060 | $7,488 | $7,280 | 7.2% |
| Goliad County | $6,448 | $6,084 | $5,980 | 11.1% |
| Gonzales County | $6,448 | $6,084 | $5,980 | 10.0% |
| Gray County | $7,644 | $7,228 | $7,072 | 14.0% |
| Grayson County | $7,176 | $6,760 | $6,604 | 10.8% |
| Gregg County | $6,448 | $6,136 | $5,980 | 10.1% |
| Grimes County | $8,008 | $7,540 | $7,332 | 12.6% |
| Guadalupe County | $8,892 | $8,320 | $8,112 | 10.1% |
| Hale County | $7,592 | $7,176 | $6,968 | 15.0% |
| Hall County | $7,644 | $7,228 | $7,072 | 17.4% |
| Hamilton County | $6,916 | $6,552 | $6,396 | 12.6% |
| Hansford County | $7,644 | $7,228 | $7,072 | 12.3% |
| Hardeman County | $6,760 | $6,344 | $6,188 | 11.2% |
| Hardin County | $7,020 | $6,656 | $6,500 | 10.0% |
| Harris County | $9,620 | $8,944 | $8,684 | 13.6% |
| Harrison County | $6,448 | $6,136 | $5,980 | 10.2% |
| Hartley County | $7,644 | $7,228 | $7,072 | 9.8% |
| Haskell County | $6,448 | $6,084 | $5,928 | 12.2% |
| Hays County | $10,504 | $9,828 | $9,516 | 13.1% |
| Hemphill County | $7,644 | $7,228 | $7,072 | 11.3% |
| Henderson County | $6,448 | $6,136 | $5,980 | 10.8% |
| Hidalgo County | $7,488 | $7,072 | $6,916 | 15.2% |
| Hill County | $6,968 | $6,604 | $6,448 | 11.5% |
| Hockley County | $7,592 | $7,176 | $6,968 | 14.2% |
| Hood County | $9,932 | $9,152 | $8,840 | 12.4% |
| Hopkins County | $6,292 | $5,928 | $5,824 | 9.9% |
| Houston County | $6,708 | $6,292 | $6,136 | 13.1% |
| Howard County | $8,060 | $7,488 | $7,280 | 12.0% |
| Hudspeth County | $6,344 | $6,032 | $5,876 | 18.0% |
| Hunt County | $9,932 | $9,152 | $8,840 | 14.8% |
| Hutchinson County | $7,644 | $7,228 | $7,072 | 12.3% |
| Irion County | $5,876 | $5,512 | $5,356 | 10.7% |
| Jack County | $6,760 | $6,344 | $6,188 | 11.5% |
| Jackson County | $6,448 | $6,084 | $5,980 | 9.6% |
| Jasper County | $6,708 | $6,292 | $6,136 | 13.7% |
| Jeff Davis County | $6,344 | $6,032 | $5,876 | 16.6% |
| Jefferson County | $7,020 | $6,656 | $6,500 | 12.3% |
| Jim Hogg County | $6,552 | $6,188 | $6,084 | 15.5% |
| Jim Wells County | $7,956 | $7,488 | $7,280 | 17.1% |
| Johnson County | $9,932 | $9,152 | $8,840 | 12.9% |
| Jones County | $6,448 | $6,084 | $5,928 | 10.9% |
| Karnes County | $8,892 | $8,320 | $8,112 | 15.4% |
| Kaufman County | $9,932 | $9,152 | $8,840 | 11.8% |
| Kendall County | $8,892 | $8,320 | $8,112 | 8.5% |
| Kenedy County | $7,956 | $7,488 | $7,280 | 17.5% |
| Kent County | $6,448 | $6,084 | $5,928 | 9.4% |
| Kerr County | $8,892 | $8,320 | $8,112 | 13.3% |
| Kimble County | $5,876 | $5,512 | $5,356 | 9.4% |
| King County | $7,592 | $7,176 | $6,968 | 12.8% |
| Kinney County | $6,760 | $6,448 | $6,344 | 12.9% |
| Kleberg County | $7,956 | $7,488 | $7,280 | 15.2% |
| Knox County | $6,448 | $6,084 | $5,928 | 13.2% |
| La Salle County | $6,760 | $6,448 | $6,344 | 10.8% |
| Lamar County | $6,292 | $5,928 | $5,824 | 10.8% |
| Lamb County | $7,592 | $7,176 | $6,968 | 13.9% |
| Lampasas County | $6,916 | $6,552 | $6,396 | 9.4% |
| Lavaca County | $6,448 | $6,084 | $5,980 | 11.0% |
| Lee County | $10,504 | $9,828 | $9,516 | 15.8% |
| Leon County | $8,008 | $7,540 | $7,332 | 14.0% |
| Liberty County | $9,620 | $8,944 | $8,684 | 16.1% |
| Limestone County | $6,968 | $6,604 | $6,448 | 13.1% |
| Lipscomb County | $7,644 | $7,228 | $7,072 | 10.7% |
| Live Oak County | $7,956 | $7,488 | $7,280 | 14.2% |
| Llano County | $10,504 | $9,828 | $9,516 | 16.4% |
| Loving County | $8,060 | $7,488 | $7,280 | 15.9% |
| Lubbock County | $7,592 | $7,176 | $6,968 | 12.3% |
| Lynn County | $7,592 | $7,176 | $6,968 | 14.3% |
| Madison County | $8,008 | $7,540 | $7,332 | 12.2% |
| Marion County | $6,448 | $6,136 | $5,980 | 13.4% |
| Martin County | $8,060 | $7,488 | $7,280 | 11.5% |
| Mason County | $5,876 | $5,512 | $5,356 | 7.6% |
| Matagorda County | $9,620 | $8,944 | $8,684 | 17.1% |
| Maverick County | $6,760 | $6,448 | $6,344 | 13.9% |
| McCulloch County | $5,876 | $5,512 | $5,356 | 11.0% |
| McLennan County | $6,968 | $6,604 | $6,448 | 11.7% |
| McMullen County | $7,956 | $7,488 | $7,280 | 13.2% |
| Medina County | $8,892 | $8,320 | $8,112 | 12.2% |
| Menard County | $5,876 | $5,512 | $5,356 | 14.4% |
| Midland County | $8,060 | $7,488 | $7,280 | 8.9% |
| Milam County | $6,916 | $6,552 | $6,396 | 12.1% |
| Mills County | $6,916 | $6,552 | $6,396 | 11.7% |
| Mitchell County | $6,448 | $6,084 | $5,928 | 12.9% |
| Montague County | $6,760 | $6,344 | $6,188 | 10.7% |
| Montgomery County | $9,620 | $8,944 | $8,684 | 10.0% |
| Moore County | $7,644 | $7,228 | $7,072 | 12.9% |
| Morris County | $6,292 | $5,928 | $5,824 | 12.2% |
| Motley County | $7,592 | $7,176 | $6,968 | 11.4% |
| Nacogdoches County | $6,708 | $6,292 | $6,136 | 13.1% |
| Navarro County | $9,932 | $9,152 | $8,840 | 17.7% |
| Newton County | $6,708 | $6,292 | $6,136 | 17.3% |
| Nolan County | $6,448 | $6,084 | $5,928 | 13.6% |
| Nueces County | $7,956 | $7,488 | $7,280 | 12.4% |
| Ochiltree County | $7,644 | $7,228 | $7,072 | 12.3% |
| Oldham County | $7,644 | $7,228 | $7,072 | 10.8% |
| Orange County | $7,020 | $6,656 | $6,500 | 9.8% |
| Palo Pinto County | $9,932 | $9,152 | $8,840 | 15.2% |
| Panola County | $6,448 | $6,136 | $5,980 | 11.1% |
| Parker County | $9,932 | $9,152 | $8,840 | 10.4% |
| Parmer County | $7,644 | $7,228 | $7,072 | 11.7% |
| Pecos County | $8,060 | $7,488 | $7,280 | 13.6% |
| Polk County | $6,708 | $6,292 | $6,136 | 11.7% |
| Potter County | $7,644 | $7,228 | $7,072 | 15.9% |
| Presidio County | $6,344 | $6,032 | $5,876 | 21.9% |
| Rains County | $6,448 | $6,136 | $5,980 | 10.7% |
| Randall County | $7,644 | $7,228 | $7,072 | 9.8% |
| Reagan County | $5,876 | $5,512 | $5,356 | 8.4% |
| Real County | $6,760 | $6,448 | $6,344 | 14.4% |
| Red River County | $6,292 | $5,928 | $5,824 | 14.1% |
| Reeves County | $8,060 | $7,488 | $7,280 | 14.0% |
| Refugio County | $6,448 | $6,084 | $5,980 | 11.9% |
| Roberts County | $7,644 | $7,228 | $7,072 | 12.2% |
| Robertson County | $8,008 | $7,540 | $7,332 | 13.5% |
| Rockwall County | $9,932 | $9,152 | $8,840 | 8.2% |
| Runnels County | $6,448 | $6,084 | $5,928 | 11.6% |
| Rusk County | $6,448 | $6,136 | $5,980 | 10.5% |
| Sabine County | $6,708 | $6,292 | $6,136 | 14.3% |
| San Augustine County | $6,708 | $6,292 | $6,136 | 14.6% |
| San Jacinto County | $6,708 | $6,292 | $6,136 | 12.2% |
| San Patricio County | $7,956 | $7,488 | $7,280 | 12.5% |
| San Saba County | $6,916 | $6,552 | $6,396 | 12.8% |
| Schleicher County | $5,876 | $5,512 | $5,356 | 10.9% |
| Scurry County | $6,448 | $6,084 | $5,928 | 10.9% |
| Shackelford County | $6,448 | $6,084 | $5,928 | 10.6% |
| Shelby County | $6,708 | $6,292 | $6,136 | 13.6% |
| Sherman County | $7,644 | $7,228 | $7,072 | 11.6% |
| Smith County | $6,448 | $6,136 | $5,980 | 9.3% |
| Somervell County | $9,932 | $9,152 | $8,840 | 11.3% |
| Starr County | $7,488 | $7,072 | $6,916 | 20.8% |
| Stephens County | $6,448 | $6,084 | $5,928 | 14.4% |
| Sterling County | $5,876 | $5,512 | $5,356 | 9.2% |
| Stonewall County | $6,448 | $6,084 | $5,928 | 9.7% |
| Sutton County | $5,876 | $5,512 | $5,356 | 10.3% |
| Swisher County | $7,644 | $7,228 | $7,072 | 19.0% |
| Tarrant County | $10,348 | $9,620 | $9,360 | 13.1% |
| Taylor County | $6,448 | $6,084 | $5,928 | 10.4% |
| Terrell County | $8,060 | $7,488 | $7,280 | 15.3% |
| Terry County | $7,592 | $7,176 | $6,968 | 17.8% |
| Throckmorton County | $6,448 | $6,084 | $5,928 | 11.7% |
| Titus County | $6,292 | $5,928 | $5,824 | 10.9% |
| Tom Green County | $5,876 | $5,512 | $5,356 | 8.7% |
| Travis County | $11,908 | $11,128 | $10,868 | 12.8% |
| Trinity County | $6,708 | $6,292 | $6,136 | 13.1% |
| Tyler County | $6,708 | $6,292 | $6,136 | 13.2% |
| Upshur County | $6,448 | $6,136 | $5,980 | 10.7% |
| Upton County | $8,060 | $7,488 | $7,280 | 14.6% |
| Uvalde County | $6,760 | $6,448 | $6,344 | 12.3% |
| Val Verde County | $6,760 | $6,448 | $6,344 | 11.8% |
| Van Zandt County | $6,448 | $6,136 | $5,980 | 10.3% |
| Victoria County | $6,448 | $6,084 | $5,980 | 9.7% |
| Walker County | $9,620 | $8,944 | $8,684 | 20.4% |
| Waller County | $9,620 | $8,944 | $8,684 | 13.4% |
| Ward County | $8,060 | $7,488 | $7,280 | 11.4% |
| Washington County | $8,008 | $7,540 | $7,332 | 11.4% |
| Webb County | $6,552 | $6,188 | $6,084 | 10.9% |
| Wharton County | $9,620 | $8,944 | $8,684 | 16.1% |
| Wheeler County | $7,644 | $7,228 | $7,072 | 13.1% |
| Wichita County | $6,760 | $6,344 | $6,188 | 11.5% |
| Wilbarger County | $6,760 | $6,344 | $6,188 | 13.3% |
| Willacy County | $7,488 | $7,072 | $6,916 | 17.5% |
| Williamson County | $10,504 | $9,828 | $9,516 | 10.2% |
| Wilson County | $8,892 | $8,320 | $8,112 | 9.9% |
| Winkler County | $8,060 | $7,488 | $7,280 | 9.0% |
| Wise County | $9,932 | $9,152 | $8,840 | 11.6% |
| Wood County | $6,448 | $6,136 | $5,980 | 10.4% |
| Yoakum County | $7,592 | $7,176 | $6,968 | 9.5% |
| Young County | $6,760 | $6,344 | $6,188 | 10.3% |
| Zapata County | $6,552 | $6,188 | $6,084 | 18.7% |
| Zavala County | $6,760 | $6,448 | $6,344 | 13.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does Texas rank on childcare costs nationally?
Texas's average center-based infant care ($7,566/yr) is cheaper than 78% of the 45 U.S. states with reported NDCP prices (national rank #10 of 45, cheapest = #1).
Is childcare more or less expensive in Texas than the national average?
Texas's average infant care price runs 21% below the national NDCP average ($9,592/yr) - a MID band in this site's sticker scale.
Does childcare cost vary a lot within Texas?
Yes - Texas's 254 reporting counties range from $5,876 to $11,908/yr for infant care, a $6,032 spread.
How does childcare cost change by child age in Texas?
The age-based cost curve is unusually flat in Texas - infant care runs only 9% above preschool, a narrower spread than most states.
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.