Infant vs Toddler vs Preschool Childcare Cost in Franklin County, OH
In Franklin County, OH, center-based childcare costs $295/wk for infants, $265/wk for toddlers, $232/wk for preschoolers, and $150/wk for school-age children, based on DOL data. Care gets cheaper as a child gets older: preschool is about 21% ($63/wk, $3,276/yr) less than infant care. Infant (0-1) is the priciest age group ($295/wk) and school-age (6+) the cheapest ($150/wk).
Cost by Child's Age
Childcare prices in Franklin 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 $295/wk ($15,340/yr), the highest band in most counties, while preschool care runs $232/wk ($12,064/yr). That's a 21% drop — about $63/wk, or $3,276 a year, in savings as your child moves from infant to preschool.
The priciest age group in Franklin County is Infant (0-1) at $295/wk, and the cheapest is school-age (6+) at $150/wk — a spread of $145/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 $150/wk, since those children only need before- and after-school coverage.
| Age Group | Center/Wk | Center/Yr | vs Infant |
|---|---|---|---|
| Infant (0-1) | $295 | $15,340 | — |
| Toddler (1-2) | $265 | $13,780 | -$30 |
| Preschool (3-5) | $232 | $12,064 | -$63 |
| School-Age (6+) | $150 | $7,800 | -$145 |
Burden Index
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $71,070 |
| Burden Index | 21.6% (Severe) |
| National Median (Infant Center) | $174/wk |
How does Franklin County compare?
At $295/wk for infant center care, Franklin County runs 70% above the national median of $174/wk.
The Childcare Burden Index here is 21.6% 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 Franklin County runs $200/wk for infants — about 32% less than center-based care, or $4,940 in annual savings. School-age care is the cheapest category at $150/wk (center) or $155/wk (family).
More about Franklin 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.