Infant vs Toddler vs Preschool Childcare Cost in Bergen County, NJ
In Bergen County, NJ, center-based childcare costs $318/wk for infants, $310/wk for toddlers, $310/wk for preschoolers, and $142/wk for school-age children, based on DOL data. Care gets cheaper as a child gets older: preschool is about 2% ($8/wk, $397/yr) less than infant care. Infant (0-1) is the priciest age group ($318/wk) and school-age (6+) the cheapest ($142/wk).
Cost by Child's Age
Childcare prices in Bergen 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 $318/wk ($16,521/yr), the highest band in most counties, while preschool care runs $310/wk ($16,124/yr). That's a 2% drop — about $8/wk, or $397 a year, in savings as your child moves from infant to preschool.
The priciest age group in Bergen County is Infant (0-1) at $318/wk, and the cheapest is school-age (6+) at $142/wk — a spread of $176/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 $142/wk, since those children only need before- and after-school coverage.
| Age Group | Center/Wk | Center/Yr | vs Infant |
|---|---|---|---|
| Infant (0-1) | $318 | $16,521 | — |
| Toddler (1-2) | $310 | $16,124 | -$8 |
| Preschool (3-5) | $310 | $16,124 | -$8 |
| School-Age (6+) | $142 | $7,394 | -$176 |
Burden Index
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $118,714 |
| Burden Index | 13.9% (Moderate) |
| National Median (Infant Center) | $174/wk |
How does Bergen County compare?
At $318/wk for infant center care, Bergen County runs 83% above the national median of $174/wk.
The Childcare Burden Index here is 13.9% of median household income — a moderate burden, above the 7% HHS affordability threshold.
For families looking to lower the bill, family-based (home) daycare in Bergen County runs $201/wk for infants — about 37% less than center-based care, or $6,086 in annual savings. School-age care is the cheapest category at $142/wk (center) or $171/wk (family).
More about Bergen 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.