Infant vs Toddler vs Preschool Childcare Cost in Essex County, MA
In Essex County, MA, center-based childcare costs $462/wk for infants, $409/wk for toddlers, $310/wk for preschoolers, and $215/wk for school-age children, based on DOL data. Care gets cheaper as a child gets older: preschool is about 33% ($152/wk, $7,881/yr) less than infant care. Infant (0-1) is the priciest age group ($462/wk) and school-age (6+) the cheapest ($215/wk).
Cost by Child's Age
Childcare prices in Essex 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 $462/wk ($24,001/yr), the highest band in most counties, while preschool care runs $310/wk ($16,120/yr). That's a 33% drop — about $152/wk, or $7,881 a year, in savings as your child moves from infant to preschool.
The priciest age group in Essex County is Infant (0-1) at $462/wk, and the cheapest is school-age (6+) at $215/wk — a spread of $247/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 $215/wk, since those children only need before- and after-school coverage.
| Age Group | Center/Wk | Center/Yr | vs Infant |
|---|---|---|---|
| Infant (0-1) | $462 | $24,001 | — |
| Toddler (1-2) | $409 | $21,242 | -$53 |
| Preschool (3-5) | $310 | $16,120 | -$152 |
| School-Age (6+) | $215 | $11,180 | -$247 |
Burden Index
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $94,378 |
| Burden Index | 25.4% (Severe) |
| National Median (Infant Center) | $174/wk |
How does Essex County compare?
At $462/wk for infant center care, Essex County runs 166% above the national median of $174/wk.
The Childcare Burden Index here is 25.4% 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 Essex County runs $250/wk for infants — about 46% less than center-based care, or $11,001 in annual savings. School-age care is the cheapest category at $215/wk (center) or $214/wk (family).
More about Essex 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.