Infant vs Toddler vs Preschool Childcare Cost in Benton County, WA
In Benton County, WA, center-based childcare costs $270/wk for infants, $208/wk for toddlers, $208/wk for preschoolers, and $152/wk for school-age children, based on DOL data. Care gets cheaper as a child gets older: preschool is about 23% ($63/wk, $3,260/yr) less than infant care. Infant (0-1) is the priciest age group ($270/wk) and school-age (6+) the cheapest ($152/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 $270/wk ($14,060/yr), the highest band in most counties, while preschool care runs $208/wk ($10,800/yr). That's a 23% drop — about $63/wk, or $3,260 a year, in savings as your child moves from infant to preschool.
The priciest age group in Benton County is Infant (0-1) at $270/wk, and the cheapest is school-age (6+) at $152/wk — a spread of $118/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 $152/wk, since those children only need before- and after-school coverage.
| Age Group | Center/Wk | Center/Yr | vs Infant |
|---|---|---|---|
| Infant (0-1) | $270 | $14,060 | — |
| Toddler (1-2) | $208 | $10,800 | -$63 |
| Preschool (3-5) | $208 | $10,800 | -$63 |
| School-Age (6+) | $152 | $7,908 | -$118 |
Burden Index
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $83,778 |
| Burden Index | 16.8% (High) |
| National Median (Infant Center) | $174/wk |
How does Benton County compare?
At $270/wk for infant center care, Benton County runs 56% above the national median of $174/wk.
The Childcare Burden Index here is 16.8% of median household income — a high burden, more than double the 7% HHS affordability threshold.
For families looking to lower the bill, family-based (home) daycare in Benton County runs $198/wk for infants — about 27% less than center-based care, or $3,764 in annual savings. School-age care is the cheapest category at $152/wk (center) or $183/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.