Infant vs Toddler vs Preschool Childcare Cost in Shasta County, CA

Childcare prices in Shasta 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 $248/wk ($12,910/yr), the highest band in most counties, while preschool care runs $214/wk ($11,146/yr). That's a 14% drop — about $34/wk, or $1,764 a year, in savings as your child moves from infant to preschool.

The priciest age group in Shasta County is Infant (0-1) at $248/wk, and the cheapest is school-age (6+) at $178/wk — a spread of $70/wk between the most and least expensive bands. The decline is uneven here: toddler care sits close to or above infant care, so the cost curve is not perfectly smooth. School-age care (ages 6+) is usually the most economical at $178/wk, since those children only need before- and after-school coverage.

At $248/wk for infant center care, Shasta County runs 43% above the national median of $174/wk.

The Childcare Burden Index here is 18.9% of median household income — a high burden, more than double the 7% HHS affordability threshold.

For families looking to lower the bill, family-based (home) daycare in Shasta County runs $209/wk for infants — about 16% less than center-based care, or $2,068 in annual savings. School-age care is the cheapest category at $178/wk (center) or $200/wk (family).