Infant vs Toddler vs Preschool Childcare Cost in Macon County, IL
In Macon County, IL, center-based childcare costs $231/wk for infants, $205/wk for toddlers, $192/wk for preschoolers, and $39/wk for school-age children, based on DOL data. Care gets cheaper as a child gets older: preschool is about 17% ($39/wk, $2,041/yr) less than infant care. Infant (0-1) is the priciest age group ($231/wk) and school-age (6+) the cheapest ($39/wk).
Cost by Child's Age
Childcare prices in Macon 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 $231/wk ($12,008/yr), the highest band in most counties, while preschool care runs $192/wk ($9,967/yr). That's a 17% drop — about $39/wk, or $2,041 a year, in savings as your child moves from infant to preschool.
The priciest age group in Macon County is Infant (0-1) at $231/wk, and the cheapest is school-age (6+) at $39/wk — a spread of $192/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 $39/wk, since those children only need before- and after-school coverage.
| Age Group | Center/Wk | Center/Yr | vs Infant |
|---|---|---|---|
| Infant (0-1) | $231 | $12,008 | — |
| Toddler (1-2) | $205 | $10,660 | -$26 |
| Preschool (3-5) | $192 | $9,967 | -$39 |
| School-Age (6+) | $39 | $2,038 | -$192 |
Burden Index
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $59,622 |
| Burden Index | 20.1% (Severe) |
| National Median (Infant Center) | $174/wk |
How does Macon County compare?
At $231/wk for infant center care, Macon County runs 33% above the national median of $174/wk.
The Childcare Burden Index here is 20.1% 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 Macon County runs $147/wk for infants — about 36% less than center-based care, or $4,357 in annual savings. School-age care is the cheapest category at $39/wk (center) or $26/wk (family).
More about Macon 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.