Infant vs Toddler vs Preschool Childcare Cost in Lake County, IL
In Lake County, IL, center-based childcare costs $305/wk for infants, $247/wk for toddlers, $236/wk for preschoolers, and $81/wk for school-age children, based on DOL data. Care gets cheaper as a child gets older: preschool is about 23% ($70/wk, $3,618/yr) less than infant care. Infant (0-1) is the priciest age group ($305/wk) and school-age (6+) the cheapest ($81/wk).
Cost by Child's Age
Childcare prices in Lake 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 $305/wk ($15,881/yr), the highest band in most counties, while preschool care runs $236/wk ($12,263/yr). That's a 23% drop — about $70/wk, or $3,618 a year, in savings as your child moves from infant to preschool.
The priciest age group in Lake County is Infant (0-1) at $305/wk, and the cheapest is school-age (6+) at $81/wk — a spread of $224/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 $81/wk, since those children only need before- and after-school coverage.
| Age Group | Center/Wk | Center/Yr | vs Infant |
|---|---|---|---|
| Infant (0-1) | $305 | $15,881 | — |
| Toddler (1-2) | $247 | $12,827 | -$59 |
| Preschool (3-5) | $236 | $12,263 | -$70 |
| School-Age (6+) | $81 | $4,235 | -$224 |
Burden Index
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $104,553 |
| Burden Index | 15.2% (High) |
| National Median (Infant Center) | $174/wk |
How does Lake County compare?
At $305/wk for infant center care, Lake County runs 76% above the national median of $174/wk.
The Childcare Burden Index here is 15.2% 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 Lake County runs $208/wk for infants — about 32% less than center-based care, or $5,077 in annual savings. School-age care is the cheapest category at $81/wk (center) or $37/wk (family).
More about Lake 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.