Infant vs Toddler vs Preschool Childcare Cost in New Haven County, CT
In New Haven County, CT, center-based childcare costs $350/wk for infants, $350/wk for toddlers, $285/wk for preschoolers, and $130/wk for school-age children, based on DOL data. Care gets cheaper as a child gets older: preschool is about 19% ($65/wk, $3,380/yr) less than infant care. Infant (0-1) is the priciest age group ($350/wk) and school-age (6+) the cheapest ($130/wk).
Cost by Child's Age
Childcare prices in New Haven 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 $350/wk ($18,200/yr), the highest band in most counties, while preschool care runs $285/wk ($14,820/yr). That's a 19% drop — about $65/wk, or $3,380 a year, in savings as your child moves from infant to preschool.
The priciest age group in New Haven County is Infant (0-1) at $350/wk, and the cheapest is school-age (6+) at $130/wk — a spread of $220/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 $130/wk, since those children only need before- and after-school coverage.
| Age Group | Center/Wk | Center/Yr | vs Infant |
|---|---|---|---|
| Infant (0-1) | $350 | $18,200 | — |
| Toddler (1-2) | $350 | $18,200 | — |
| Preschool (3-5) | $285 | $14,820 | -$65 |
| School-Age (6+) | $130 | $6,760 | -$220 |
Burden Index
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $79,216 |
| Burden Index | 23.0% (Severe) |
| National Median (Infant Center) | $174/wk |
How does New Haven County compare?
At $350/wk for infant center care, New Haven County runs 102% above the national median of $174/wk.
The Childcare Burden Index here is 23.0% 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 New Haven County runs $250/wk for infants — about 29% less than center-based care, or $5,200 in annual savings. School-age care is the cheapest category at $130/wk (center) or $150/wk (family).
More about New Haven 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.