Infant vs Toddler vs Preschool Childcare Cost in Arapahoe County, CO
In Arapahoe County, CO, center-based childcare costs $377/wk for infants, $326/wk for toddlers, $281/wk for preschoolers, and $504/wk for school-age children, based on DOL data. Care gets cheaper as a child gets older: preschool is about 26% ($97/wk, $5,039/yr) less than infant care. School-Age (6+) is the priciest age group ($504/wk) and preschool (3-5) the cheapest ($281/wk).
Cost by Child's Age
Childcare prices in Arapahoe County track a child's age closely, because state licensing rules require more staff per child for the youngest age bands. Infant center care costs $377/wk ($19,625/yr), the highest band in most counties, while preschool care runs $281/wk ($14,586/yr). That's a 26% drop — about $97/wk, or $5,039 a year, in savings as your child moves from infant to preschool.
The priciest age group in Arapahoe County is School-Age (6+) at $504/wk, and the cheapest is preschool (3-5) at $281/wk — a spread of $224/wk between the most and least expensive bands. Cost declines steadily from infant to toddler to preschool, the typical national shape. School-age care (ages 6+) is usually the most economical at $504/wk, since those children only need before- and after-school coverage.
| Age Group | Center/Wk | Center/Yr | vs Infant |
|---|---|---|---|
| Infant (0-1) | $377 | $19,625 | — |
| Toddler (1-2) | $326 | $16,926 | -$52 |
| Preschool (3-5) | $281 | $14,586 | -$97 |
| School-Age (6+) | $504 | $26,224 | +$127 |
Burden Index
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $92,292 |
| Burden Index | 21.3% (Severe) |
| National Median (Infant Center) | $174/wk |
How does Arapahoe County compare?
At $377/wk for infant center care, Arapahoe County runs 117% above the national median of $174/wk.
The Childcare Burden Index here is 21.3% of median household income — a severe burden, more than triple the 7% affordability threshold the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services uses.
For families looking to lower the bill, family-based (home) daycare in Arapahoe County runs $257/wk for infants — about 32% less than center-based care, or $6,271 in annual savings. School-age care is the cheapest category at $504/wk (center) or $207/wk (family).
More about Arapahoe County
The data source behind this answer is the DOL National Database of Childcare Prices. Every figure on the page traces back to that source; the methodology page describes the inputs and the refresh cadence in full detail.
For readers turning this answer into action: cross-reference against the underlying the DOL National Database of Childcare Prices record before acting on time-sensitive decisions. The site renders the data as it was published; subsequent revisions can shift the picture, and the live federal data is always the authoritative current reference.
Source: U.S. Department of Labor Women’s Bureau Childcare Prices, 2026.