Infant vs Toddler vs Preschool Childcare Cost in Beltrami County, MN
In Beltrami County, MN, center-based childcare costs $255/wk for infants, $228/wk for toddlers, $214/wk for preschoolers, and $171/wk for school-age children, based on DOL data. Care gets cheaper as a child gets older: preschool is about 16% ($41/wk, $2,149/yr) less than infant care. Infant (0-1) is the priciest age group ($255/wk) and school-age (6+) the cheapest ($171/wk).
Cost by Child's Age
Childcare prices in Beltrami 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 $255/wk ($13,260/yr), the highest band in most counties, while preschool care runs $214/wk ($11,111/yr). That's a 16% drop — about $41/wk, or $2,149 a year, in savings as your child moves from infant to preschool.
The priciest age group in Beltrami County is Infant (0-1) at $255/wk, and the cheapest is school-age (6+) at $171/wk — a spread of $84/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 $171/wk, since those children only need before- and after-school coverage.
| Age Group | Center/Wk | Center/Yr | vs Infant |
|---|---|---|---|
| Infant (0-1) | $255 | $13,260 | — |
| Toddler (1-2) | $228 | $11,839 | -$27 |
| Preschool (3-5) | $214 | $11,111 | -$41 |
| School-Age (6+) | $171 | $8,892 | -$84 |
Burden Index
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $62,173 |
| Burden Index | 21.3% (Severe) |
| National Median (Infant Center) | $174/wk |
How does Beltrami County compare?
At $255/wk for infant center care, Beltrami County runs 47% 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 Beltrami County runs $143/wk for infants — about 44% less than center-based care, or $5,807 in annual savings. School-age care is the cheapest category at $171/wk (center) or $127/wk (family).
More about Beltrami 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.