Infant vs Toddler vs Preschool Childcare Cost in Talbot County, MD
In Talbot County, MD, center-based childcare costs $254/wk for infants, $175/wk for toddlers, $175/wk for preschoolers, and $163/wk for school-age children, based on DOL data. Care gets cheaper as a child gets older: preschool is about 31% ($79/wk, $4,115/yr) less than infant care. Infant (0-1) is the priciest age group ($254/wk) and school-age (6+) the cheapest ($163/wk).
Cost by Child's Age
Childcare prices in Talbot 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 $254/wk ($13,231/yr), the highest band in most counties, while preschool care runs $175/wk ($9,116/yr). That's a 31% drop — about $79/wk, or $4,115 a year, in savings as your child moves from infant to preschool.
The priciest age group in Talbot County is Infant (0-1) at $254/wk, and the cheapest is school-age (6+) at $163/wk — a spread of $92/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 $163/wk, since those children only need before- and after-school coverage.
| Age Group | Center/Wk | Center/Yr | vs Infant |
|---|---|---|---|
| Infant (0-1) | $254 | $13,231 | — |
| Toddler (1-2) | $175 | $9,116 | -$79 |
| Preschool (3-5) | $175 | $9,116 | -$79 |
| School-Age (6+) | $163 | $8,455 | -$92 |
Burden Index
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $81,667 |
| Burden Index | 16.2% (High) |
| National Median (Infant Center) | $174/wk |
How does Talbot County compare?
At $254/wk for infant center care, Talbot County runs 47% above the national median of $174/wk.
The Childcare Burden Index here is 16.2% 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 Talbot County runs $177/wk for infants — about 31% less than center-based care, or $4,041 in annual savings. School-age care is the cheapest category at $163/wk (center) or $129/wk (family).
More about Talbot 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.