Avg Infant (Center)
$10,445 /yr
Across 134 Virginia counties
Statewide childcare costs · DOL NDCP 2022
Childcare costs in Virginia
According to PlainChildcare's state ranking (DOL NDCP county averages), Virginia ranks #19 of 45 jurisdictions by average center-based infant care price (cheapest = #1).
Data updated 2026-09-24
- $10,445
- Avg infant (center)
- +9%
- Vs. national avg
- #19 of 45
- Corpus placement
NDCP state market brief
Virginia statewide sticker posture
- PRICE PAR vs national NDCP mean
- AVG $10,445 Center infant avg
- SPREAD $22,919 County min–max gap
- RANK #19 of 45 National state rank
- COUNT 134 Reporting counties
- MIN $6,167 Cheapest county
- MAX $29,086 Priciest county
- PHOTO Florida Nearest avg peer
Avg-infant peers
Avg Toddler (Center)
$8,194 /yr
Center-based weighted average
Avg Preschool (Center)
$7,999 /yr
Center-based weighted average
Infant cost spread
$6,167 – $29,086
Lowest to highest county
Virginia center-based childcare averages by age
Annual cost averaged across all reporting counties. Source: DOL Women's Bureau NDCP 2022.
Where Virginia ranks on infant-care cost
Average center-based infant care, every U.S. state with reported prices
$10,445 more affordable than 58% 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
Virginia infant care vs. HHS 7%-of-income affordability ceiling 65.3%
HHS 7% threshold
Bar shows Virginia 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 Virginia, starting at $6,167/yr
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Most Expensive Childcare
Counties with the highest infant care costs in Virginia, up to $29,086/yr
Childcare Landscape Across Virginia
Across Virginia's 134 counties with NDCP price coverage, center-based infant care averages $10,445/year (PAR vs the national mean), toddler $8,194/year, preschool $7,999/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 $6,167 to $29,086 (Δ $22,919/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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accomack County | $9,870 | $6,841 | $6,284 | 18.7% |
| Albemarle County | $13,974 | $11,865 | $11,617 | 14.3% |
| Alexandria City | $23,540 | $22,063 | $22,063 | 20.8% |
| Alleghany County | $8,258 | $6,746 | $6,197 | 15.7% |
| Amelia County | $8,339 | $6,379 | $5,860 | 13.1% |
| Amherst County | $7,734 | $5,155 | $5,155 | 12.0% |
| Appomattox County | $7,456 | $5,989 | $5,502 | 12.4% |
| Arlington County | $29,086 | $25,808 | $25,808 | 21.2% |
| Augusta County | $10,115 | $7,474 | $7,474 | 13.3% |
| Bath County | $9,234 | $8,308 | $8,308 | 16.6% |
| Bedford City | $5,252 | $4,836 | $4,836 | 14.8% |
| Bedford County | $10,189 | $5,980 | $5,980 | 13.6% |
| Bland County | $7,377 | $6,379 | $5,860 | 12.3% |
| Botetourt County | $8,980 | $7,974 | $7,325 | 11.6% |
| Bristol City | $6,703 | $5,460 | $5,460 | 14.8% |
| Brunswick County | $7,668 | $5,866 | $5,389 | 14.6% |
| Buchanan County | $6,167 | $5,200 | $5,200 | 15.6% |
| Buckingham County | $6,971 | $5,200 | $5,200 | 11.6% |
| Buena Vista City | $8,848 | $7,280 | $7,280 | 18.1% |
| Campbell County | $7,239 | $5,720 | $5,720 | 12.3% |
| Caroline County | $12,188 | $8,612 | $7,911 | 14.6% |
| Carroll County | $6,167 | $5,200 | $5,200 | 12.6% |
| Charles City County | $10,055 | $7,647 | $7,025 | 15.3% |
| Charlotte County | $7,776 | $5,948 | $5,465 | 15.1% |
| Charlottesville City | $14,264 | $11,904 | $11,894 | 21.2% |
| Chesapeake City | $12,314 | $9,553 | $9,353 | 13.3% |
| Chesterfield County | $14,503 | $11,239 | $11,004 | 15.1% |
| Clarke County | $11,604 | $9,073 | $9,073 | 10.8% |
| Colonial Heights City | $15,766 | $10,310 | $10,310 | 21.8% |
| Covington City | $7,508 | $5,980 | $5,980 | 16.4% |
| Craig County | $7,990 | $6,527 | $5,996 | 12.1% |
| Culpeper County | $11,304 | $8,248 | $8,248 | 12.2% |
| Cumberland County | $7,776 | $5,948 | $5,465 | 13.8% |
| Danville City | $7,239 | $6,240 | $6,240 | 17.5% |
| Dickenson County | $6,167 | $5,200 | $5,200 | 15.4% |
| Dinwiddie County | $10,115 | $6,701 | $6,701 | 13.1% |
| Emporia City | $10,028 | $7,626 | $7,005 | 24.2% |
| Essex County | $10,169 | $7,733 | $7,104 | 19.4% |
| Fairfax City | $17,959 | $14,996 | $15,970 | 14.0% |
| Fairfax County | $17,959 | $14,996 | $15,970 | 12.4% |
| Falls Church City | $22,311 | $16,238 | $16,238 | 13.6% |
| Fauquier County | $14,368 | $7,617 | $8,111 | 11.7% |
| Floyd County | $8,980 | $7,336 | $6,739 | 15.7% |
| Fluvanna County | $10,115 | $7,217 | $7,217 | 11.1% |
| Franklin City | $10,584 | $9,250 | $8,497 | 18.4% |
| Franklin County | $8,980 | $7,336 | $6,739 | 13.5% |
| Frederick County | $11,304 | $7,732 | $7,732 | 12.2% |
| Fredericksburg City | $12,197 | $9,021 | $9,021 | 14.6% |
| Galax City | $6,167 | $5,980 | $5,980 | 13.8% |
| Giles County | $8,980 | $7,336 | $6,739 | 14.5% |
| Gloucester County | $10,905 | $10,207 | $9,376 | 13.0% |
| Goochland County | $15,268 | $10,586 | $10,586 | 14.5% |
| Grayson County | $6,167 | $5,200 | $5,200 | 14.2% |
| Greene County | $8,924 | $7,217 | $7,217 | 11.0% |
| Greensville County | $9,116 | $6,760 | $6,760 | 17.6% |
| Halifax County | $6,971 | $5,200 | $5,200 | 14.2% |
| Hampton City | $11,238 | $8,529 | $7,835 | 17.4% |
| Hanover County | $12,630 | $10,210 | $9,996 | 12.1% |
| Harrisonburg City | $9,751 | $7,985 | $7,336 | 17.4% |
| Henrico County | $13,684 | $9,918 | $9,711 | 16.6% |
| Henry County | $6,703 | $4,940 | $4,940 | 15.3% |
| Highland County | $9,943 | $8,930 | $8,204 | 17.4% |
| Hopewell City | $10,905 | $8,293 | $7,618 | 21.5% |
| Isle of Wight County | $9,817 | $7,217 | $7,217 | 10.7% |
| James City County | $11,828 | $9,202 | $9,799 | 11.7% |
| King and Queen County | $10,905 | $8,293 | $7,618 | 15.5% |
| King George County | $9,771 | $8,179 | $8,710 | 9.5% |
| King William County | $9,514 | $7,343 | $7,337 | 12.0% |
| Lancaster County | $10,905 | $8,293 | $7,618 | 17.4% |
| Lee County | $6,167 | $5,200 | $5,200 | 14.8% |
| Lexington City | $9,817 | $7,217 | $7,217 | 10.5% |
| Loudoun County | $19,027 | $16,359 | $17,420 | 11.2% |
| Louisa County | $9,943 | $8,930 | $8,204 | 13.0% |
| Lunenburg County | $6,971 | $5,200 | $5,200 | 12.8% |
| Lynchburg City | $8,044 | $5,720 | $5,720 | 14.3% |
| Madison County | $13,150 | $10,525 | $9,669 | 17.6% |
| Manassas City | $13,410 | $11,664 | $12,421 | 12.1% |
| Manassas Park City | $21,716 | $15,980 | $15,980 | 23.7% |
| Martinsville City | $6,703 | $4,940 | $4,940 | 17.1% |
| Mathews County | $9,123 | $7,164 | $7,013 | 11.5% |
| Mecklenburg County | $8,339 | $6,060 | $5,567 | 16.3% |
| Middlesex County | $10,905 | $8,293 | $7,618 | 15.7% |
| Montgomery County | $9,653 | $8,840 | $8,840 | 14.8% |
| Nelson County | $9,622 | $8,930 | $8,204 | 15.0% |
| New Kent County | $9,514 | $7,668 | $8,166 | 8.4% |
| Newport News City | $11,829 | $8,529 | $7,835 | 18.7% |
| Norfolk City | $12,829 | $9,887 | $9,083 | 21.0% |
| Northampton County | $9,870 | $8,625 | $7,923 | 18.0% |
| Northumberland County | $10,905 | $8,293 | $7,618 | 16.9% |
| Norton City | $6,167 | $6,240 | $6,240 | 16.7% |
| Nottoway County | $6,971 | $5,200 | $5,200 | 11.2% |
| Orange County | $12,197 | $8,248 | $8,248 | 14.0% |
| Page County | $9,943 | $8,930 | $8,204 | 17.5% |
| Patrick County | $8,258 | $6,746 | $6,197 | 16.8% |
| Petersburg City | $8,980 | $6,698 | $6,153 | 19.1% |
| Pittsylvania County | $8,030 | $5,704 | $5,240 | 15.3% |
| Poquoson City | $12,197 | $8,764 | $8,764 | 10.7% |
| Portsmouth City | $13,211 | $8,467 | $7,778 | 23.1% |
| Powhatan County | $10,799 | $8,179 | $8,710 | 10.0% |
| Prince Edward County | $7,734 | $5,671 | $5,671 | 13.5% |
| Prince George County | $10,115 | $6,701 | $6,701 | 12.6% |
| Prince William County | $16,199 | $13,036 | $13,881 | 13.1% |
| Pulaski County | $8,980 | $7,336 | $6,739 | 15.0% |
| Radford City | $7,508 | $5,980 | $5,980 | 14.7% |
| Rappahannock County | $12,686 | $11,060 | $11,060 | 12.9% |
| Richmond City | $16,037 | $10,525 | $9,669 | 26.9% |
| Richmond County | $10,115 | $6,701 | $6,701 | 16.1% |
| Roanoke City | $12,093 | $8,506 | $7,814 | 23.5% |
| Roanoke County | $13,150 | $9,569 | $8,790 | 16.3% |
| Rockbridge County | $9,817 | $7,217 | $7,217 | 15.9% |
| Rockingham County | $10,115 | $7,217 | $7,217 | 13.8% |
| Russell County | $6,167 | $5,200 | $5,200 | 14.0% |
| Salem City | $12,125 | $8,823 | $8,105 | 17.7% |
| Scott County | $6,167 | $5,200 | $5,200 | 13.8% |
| Shenandoah County | $8,030 | $6,844 | $6,287 | 12.9% |
| Smyth County | $6,783 | $5,866 | $5,389 | 15.1% |
| Southampton County | $9,571 | $8,364 | $7,684 | 14.1% |
| Spotsylvania County | $11,057 | $9,457 | $10,071 | 10.5% |
| Stafford County | $11,571 | $10,480 | $11,160 | 9.0% |
| Staunton City | $10,905 | $9,250 | $8,497 | 18.3% |
| Suffolk City | $9,851 | $8,711 | $8,528 | 11.2% |
| Surry County | $10,905 | $8,293 | $7,618 | 15.9% |
| Sussex County | $10,115 | $6,701 | $6,701 | 17.1% |
| Tazewell County | $6,167 | $4,680 | $4,680 | 13.3% |
| Virginia Beach City | $12,314 | $10,115 | $9,903 | 14.1% |
| Warren County | $8,924 | $6,701 | $6,701 | 11.3% |
| Washington County | $6,842 | $5,671 | $5,671 | 11.6% |
| Waynesboro City | $10,169 | $8,625 | $7,923 | 19.4% |
| Westmoreland County | $10,905 | $8,293 | $7,618 | 19.3% |
| Williamsburg City | $11,089 | $7,151 | $8,262 | 16.6% |
| Winchester City | $11,238 | $8,823 | $8,105 | 18.0% |
| Wise County | $6,167 | $6,240 | $6,240 | 13.0% |
| Wythe County | $6,879 | $5,948 | $5,465 | 12.8% |
| York County | $10,993 | $8,840 | $8,840 | 10.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does Virginia rank on childcare costs nationally?
Virginia's average center-based infant care ($10,445/yr) is cheaper than 58% of the 45 U.S. states with reported NDCP prices (national rank #19 of 45, cheapest = #1).
Is childcare more or less expensive in Virginia than the national average?
Virginia's average infant care price runs 9% above the national NDCP average ($9,592/yr) - a PAR band in this site's sticker scale.
Does childcare cost vary a lot within Virginia?
Yes - Virginia's 134 reporting counties range from $6,167 to $29,086/yr for infant care, a $22,919 spread.
How does childcare cost change by child age in Virginia?
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 September 2026. Primary sources: DOL Women's Bureau NDCP and U.S. Census Bureau ACS.