Infant vs Toddler vs Preschool Childcare Cost in Oakland County, MI
In Oakland County, MI, center-based childcare costs $196/wk for infants, $196/wk for toddlers, $177/wk for preschoolers, and $159/wk for school-age children, based on DOL data. Care gets cheaper as a child gets older: preschool is about 10% ($19/wk, $1,005/yr) less than infant care. Infant (0-1) is the priciest age group ($196/wk) and school-age (6+) the cheapest ($159/wk).
Cost by Child's Age
Childcare prices in Oakland 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 $196/wk ($10,211/yr), the highest band in most counties, while preschool care runs $177/wk ($9,206/yr). That's a 10% drop — about $19/wk, or $1,005 a year, in savings as your child moves from infant to preschool.
The priciest age group in Oakland County is Infant (0-1) at $196/wk, and the cheapest is school-age (6+) at $159/wk — a spread of $38/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 $159/wk, since those children only need before- and after-school coverage.
| Age Group | Center/Wk | Center/Yr | vs Infant |
|---|---|---|---|
| Infant (0-1) | $196 | $10,211 | — |
| Toddler (1-2) | $196 | $10,211 | — |
| Preschool (3-5) | $177 | $9,206 | -$19 |
| School-Age (6+) | $159 | $8,244 | -$38 |
Burden Index
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $92,620 |
| Burden Index | 11.0% (Moderate) |
| National Median (Infant Center) | $174/wk |
How does Oakland County compare?
At $196/wk for infant center care, Oakland County runs 13% above the national median of $174/wk.
The Childcare Burden Index here is 11.0% of median household income — a moderate burden, above the 7% HHS affordability threshold.
More about Oakland 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.