Infant vs Toddler vs Preschool Childcare Cost in Boone County, KY
In Boone County, KY, center-based childcare costs $199/wk for infants, $170/wk for toddlers, $170/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 15% ($29/wk, $1,508/yr) less than infant care. Infant (0-1) is the priciest age group ($199/wk) and toddler (1-2) the cheapest ($170/wk).
Cost by Child's Age
Childcare prices in Boone 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 $199/wk ($10,342/yr), the highest band in most counties, while preschool care runs $170/wk ($8,834/yr). That's a 15% drop — about $29/wk, or $1,508 a year, in savings as your child moves from infant to preschool.
The priciest age group in Boone County is Infant (0-1) at $199/wk, and the cheapest is toddler (1-2) at $170/wk — a spread of $29/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) | $199 | $10,342 | — |
| Toddler (1-2) | $170 | $8,834 | -$29 |
| Preschool (3-5) | $170 | $8,834 | -$29 |
| School-Age (6+) | $171 | $8,879 | -$28 |
Burden Index
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $91,697 |
| Burden Index | 11.3% (Moderate) |
| National Median (Infant Center) | $174/wk |
How does Boone County compare?
At $199/wk for infant center care, Boone County runs 15% above the national median of $174/wk.
The Childcare Burden Index here is 11.3% 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 Boone County runs $168/wk for infants — about 16% less than center-based care, or $1,606 in annual savings. School-age care is the cheapest category at $171/wk (center) or $169/wk (family).
More about Boone 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.