Infant vs Toddler vs Preschool Childcare Cost in Larimer County, CO
In Larimer County, CO, center-based childcare costs $391/wk for infants, $351/wk for toddlers, $291/wk for preschoolers, and $178/wk for school-age children, based on DOL data. Care gets cheaper as a child gets older: preschool is about 26% ($101/wk, $5,234/yr) less than infant care. Infant (0-1) is the priciest age group ($391/wk) and school-age (6+) the cheapest ($178/wk).
Cost by Child's Age
Childcare prices in Larimer 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 $391/wk ($20,345/yr), the highest band in most counties, while preschool care runs $291/wk ($15,111/yr). That's a 26% drop — about $101/wk, or $5,234 a year, in savings as your child moves from infant to preschool.
The priciest age group in Larimer County is Infant (0-1) at $391/wk, and the cheapest is school-age (6+) at $178/wk — a spread of $213/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 $178/wk, since those children only need before- and after-school coverage.
| Age Group | Center/Wk | Center/Yr | vs Infant |
|---|---|---|---|
| Infant (0-1) | $391 | $20,345 | — |
| Toddler (1-2) | $351 | $18,255 | -$40 |
| Preschool (3-5) | $291 | $15,111 | -$101 |
| School-Age (6+) | $178 | $9,263 | -$213 |
Burden Index
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $87,199 |
| Burden Index | 23.3% (Severe) |
| National Median (Infant Center) | $174/wk |
How does Larimer County compare?
At $391/wk for infant center care, Larimer County runs 125% above the national median of $174/wk.
The Childcare Burden Index here is 23.3% 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 Larimer County runs $232/wk for infants — about 41% less than center-based care, or $8,278 in annual savings. School-age care is the cheapest category at $178/wk (center) or $177/wk (family).
More about Larimer 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.