Infant vs Toddler vs Preschool Childcare Cost in Roanoke City, VA
In Roanoke City, VA, center-based childcare costs $233/wk for infants, $164/wk for toddlers, $150/wk for preschoolers, and $142/wk for school-age children, based on DOL data. Care gets cheaper as a child gets older: preschool is about 35% ($82/wk, $4,279/yr) less than infant care. Infant (0-1) is the priciest age group ($233/wk) and school-age (6+) the cheapest ($142/wk).
Cost by Child's Age
Childcare prices in Roanoke City track a child's age closely, because state licensing rules require more staff per child for the youngest age bands. Infant center care costs $233/wk ($12,093/yr), the highest band in most counties, while preschool care runs $150/wk ($7,814/yr). That's a 35% drop — about $82/wk, or $4,279 a year, in savings as your child moves from infant to preschool.
The priciest age group in Roanoke City is Infant (0-1) at $233/wk, and the cheapest is school-age (6+) at $142/wk — a spread of $91/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 $142/wk, since those children only need before- and after-school coverage.
| Age Group | Center/Wk | Center/Yr | vs Infant |
|---|---|---|---|
| Infant (0-1) | $233 | $12,093 | — |
| Toddler (1-2) | $164 | $8,506 | -$69 |
| Preschool (3-5) | $150 | $7,814 | -$82 |
| School-Age (6+) | $142 | $7,362 | -$91 |
Burden Index
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $51,523 |
| Burden Index | 23.5% (Severe) |
| National Median (Infant Center) | $174/wk |
How does Roanoke City compare?
At $233/wk for infant center care, Roanoke City runs 34% above the national median of $174/wk.
The Childcare Burden Index here is 23.5% 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 Roanoke City runs $163/wk for infants — about 30% less than center-based care, or $3,605 in annual savings. School-age care is the cheapest category at $142/wk (center) or $149/wk (family).
More about Roanoke City
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.