Infant vs Toddler vs Preschool Childcare Cost in Flathead County, MT
In Flathead County, MT, center-based childcare costs $222/wk for infants, $233/wk for toddlers, $199/wk for preschoolers, and $199/wk for school-age children, based on DOL data. Care gets cheaper as a child gets older: preschool is about 11% ($23/wk, $1,221/yr) less than infant care. Toddler (1-2) is the priciest age group ($233/wk) and preschool (3-5) the cheapest ($199/wk).
Cost by Child's Age
Childcare prices in Flathead 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 $222/wk ($11,547/yr), the highest band in most counties, while preschool care runs $199/wk ($10,326/yr). That's a 11% drop — about $23/wk, or $1,221 a year, in savings as your child moves from infant to preschool.
The priciest age group in Flathead County is Toddler (1-2) at $233/wk, and the cheapest is preschool (3-5) at $199/wk — a spread of $34/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 $199/wk, since those children only need before- and after-school coverage.
| Age Group | Center/Wk | Center/Yr | vs Infant |
|---|---|---|---|
| Infant (0-1) | $222 | $11,547 | — |
| Toddler (1-2) | $233 | $12,104 | +$11 |
| Preschool (3-5) | $199 | $10,326 | -$23 |
| School-Age (6+) | $199 | $10,326 | -$23 |
Burden Index
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $68,025 |
| Burden Index | 17.0% (High) |
| National Median (Infant Center) | $174/wk |
How does Flathead County compare?
At $222/wk for infant center care, Flathead County runs 28% above the national median of $174/wk.
The Childcare Burden Index here is 17.0% 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 Flathead County runs $180/wk for infants — about 19% less than center-based care, or $2,196 in annual savings. School-age care is the cheapest category at $199/wk (center) or $170/wk (family).
More about Flathead 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.