Infant vs Toddler vs Preschool Childcare Cost in Benton County, OR
In Benton County, OR, center-based childcare costs $340/wk for infants, $312/wk for toddlers, $244/wk for preschoolers, and $87/wk for school-age children, based on DOL data. Care gets cheaper as a child gets older: preschool is about 28% ($96/wk, $4,994/yr) less than infant care. Infant (0-1) is the priciest age group ($340/wk) and school-age (6+) the cheapest ($87/wk).
Cost by Child's Age
Childcare prices in Benton 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 $340/wk ($17,690/yr), the highest band in most counties, while preschool care runs $244/wk ($12,696/yr). That's a 28% drop — about $96/wk, or $4,994 a year, in savings as your child moves from infant to preschool.
The priciest age group in Benton County is Infant (0-1) at $340/wk, and the cheapest is school-age (6+) at $87/wk — a spread of $253/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 $87/wk, since those children only need before- and after-school coverage.
| Age Group | Center/Wk | Center/Yr | vs Infant |
|---|---|---|---|
| Infant (0-1) | $340 | $17,690 | — |
| Toddler (1-2) | $312 | $16,246 | -$28 |
| Preschool (3-5) | $244 | $12,696 | -$96 |
| School-Age (6+) | $87 | $4,516 | -$253 |
Burden Index
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $72,882 |
| Burden Index | 24.3% (Severe) |
| National Median (Infant Center) | $174/wk |
How does Benton County compare?
At $340/wk for infant center care, Benton County runs 96% above the national median of $174/wk.
The Childcare Burden Index here is 24.3% 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 Benton County runs $234/wk for infants — about 31% less than center-based care, or $5,518 in annual savings. School-age care is the cheapest category at $87/wk (center) or $166/wk (family).
More about Benton 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.