Infant vs Toddler vs Preschool Childcare Cost in Steele County, ND
In Steele County, ND, center-based childcare costs $203/wk for infants, $185/wk for toddlers, $172/wk for preschoolers, and $167/wk for school-age children, based on DOL data. Care gets cheaper as a child gets older: preschool is about 15% ($31/wk, $1,620/yr) less than infant care. Infant (0-1) is the priciest age group ($203/wk) and school-age (6+) the cheapest ($167/wk).
Cost by Child's Age
Childcare prices in Steele 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 $203/wk ($10,556/yr), the highest band in most counties, while preschool care runs $172/wk ($8,936/yr). That's a 15% drop — about $31/wk, or $1,620 a year, in savings as your child moves from infant to preschool.
The priciest age group in Steele County is Infant (0-1) at $203/wk, and the cheapest is school-age (6+) at $167/wk — a spread of $36/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 $167/wk, since those children only need before- and after-school coverage.
| Age Group | Center/Wk | Center/Yr | vs Infant |
|---|---|---|---|
| Infant (0-1) | $203 | $10,556 | — |
| Toddler (1-2) | $185 | $9,642 | -$18 |
| Preschool (3-5) | $172 | $8,936 | -$31 |
| School-Age (6+) | $167 | $8,699 | -$36 |
Burden Index
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $85,750 |
| Burden Index | 12.3% (Moderate) |
| National Median (Infant Center) | $174/wk |
How does Steele County compare?
At $203/wk for infant center care, Steele County runs 17% above the national median of $174/wk.
The Childcare Burden Index here is 12.3% of median household income — a moderate burden, above the 7% HHS affordability threshold.
For families looking to lower the bill, family-based (home) daycare in Steele County runs $149/wk for infants — about 26% less than center-based care, or $2,797 in annual savings. School-age care is the cheapest category at $167/wk (center) or $146/wk (family).
More about Steele 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.