Infant vs Toddler vs Preschool Childcare Cost in DuPage County, IL
In DuPage County, IL, center-based childcare costs $374/wk for infants, $280/wk for toddlers, $316/wk for preschoolers, and $75/wk for school-age children, based on DOL data. Care gets cheaper as a child gets older: preschool is about 16% ($59/wk, $3,042/yr) less than infant care. Infant (0-1) is the priciest age group ($374/wk) and school-age (6+) the cheapest ($75/wk).
Cost by Child's Age
Childcare prices in DuPage 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 $374/wk ($19,465/yr), the highest band in most counties, while preschool care runs $316/wk ($16,423/yr). That's a 16% drop — about $59/wk, or $3,042 a year, in savings as your child moves from infant to preschool.
The priciest age group in DuPage County is Infant (0-1) at $374/wk, and the cheapest is school-age (6+) at $75/wk — a spread of $299/wk between the most and least expensive bands. The decline is uneven here: toddler care sits close to or above infant care, so the cost curve is not perfectly smooth. School-age care (ages 6+) is usually the most economical at $75/wk, since those children only need before- and after-school coverage.
| Age Group | Center/Wk | Center/Yr | vs Infant |
|---|---|---|---|
| Infant (0-1) | $374 | $19,465 | — |
| Toddler (1-2) | $280 | $14,560 | -$94 |
| Preschool (3-5) | $316 | $16,423 | -$58 |
| School-Age (6+) | $75 | $3,900 | -$299 |
Burden Index
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $107,035 |
| Burden Index | 18.2% (High) |
| National Median (Infant Center) | $174/wk |
How does DuPage County compare?
At $374/wk for infant center care, DuPage County runs 116% above the national median of $174/wk.
The Childcare Burden Index here is 18.2% 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 DuPage County runs $235/wk for infants — about 37% less than center-based care, or $7,271 in annual savings. School-age care is the cheapest category at $75/wk (center) or $66/wk (family).
More about DuPage 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.