Infant vs Toddler vs Preschool Childcare Cost in Sumner County, TN
In Sumner County, TN, center-based childcare costs $212/wk for infants, $146/wk for toddlers, $146/wk for preschoolers, and $76/wk for school-age children, based on DOL data. Care gets cheaper as a child gets older: preschool is about 31% ($65/wk, $3,397/yr) less than infant care. Infant (0-1) is the priciest age group ($212/wk) and school-age (6+) the cheapest ($76/wk).
Cost by Child's Age
Childcare prices in Sumner 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 $212/wk ($11,007/yr), the highest band in most counties, while preschool care runs $146/wk ($7,610/yr). That's a 31% drop — about $65/wk, or $3,397 a year, in savings as your child moves from infant to preschool.
The priciest age group in Sumner County is Infant (0-1) at $212/wk, and the cheapest is school-age (6+) at $76/wk — a spread of $135/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 $76/wk, since those children only need before- and after-school coverage.
| Age Group | Center/Wk | Center/Yr | vs Infant |
|---|---|---|---|
| Infant (0-1) | $212 | $11,007 | — |
| Toddler (1-2) | $146 | $7,610 | -$65 |
| Preschool (3-5) | $146 | $7,610 | -$65 |
| School-Age (6+) | $76 | $3,969 | -$135 |
Burden Index
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $81,883 |
| Burden Index | 13.4% (Moderate) |
| National Median (Infant Center) | $174/wk |
How does Sumner County compare?
At $212/wk for infant center care, Sumner County runs 22% above the national median of $174/wk.
The Childcare Burden Index here is 13.4% 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 Sumner County runs $155/wk for infants — about 27% less than center-based care, or $2,947 in annual savings. School-age care is the cheapest category at $76/wk (center) or $105/wk (family).
More about Sumner 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.