Infant vs Toddler vs Preschool Childcare Cost in Will County, IL
In Will County, IL, center-based childcare costs $304/wk for infants, $282/wk for toddlers, $255/wk for preschoolers, and $58/wk for school-age children, based on DOL data. Care gets cheaper as a child gets older: preschool is about 16% ($49/wk, $2,565/yr) less than infant care. Infant (0-1) is the priciest age group ($304/wk) and school-age (6+) the cheapest ($58/wk).
Cost by Child's Age
Childcare prices in Will 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 $304/wk ($15,825/yr), the highest band in most counties, while preschool care runs $255/wk ($13,260/yr). That's a 16% drop — about $49/wk, or $2,565 a year, in savings as your child moves from infant to preschool.
The priciest age group in Will County is Infant (0-1) at $304/wk, and the cheapest is school-age (6+) at $58/wk — a spread of $246/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 $58/wk, since those children only need before- and after-school coverage.
| Age Group | Center/Wk | Center/Yr | vs Infant |
|---|---|---|---|
| Infant (0-1) | $304 | $15,825 | — |
| Toddler (1-2) | $282 | $14,647 | -$23 |
| Preschool (3-5) | $255 | $13,260 | -$49 |
| School-Age (6+) | $58 | $3,034 | -$246 |
Burden Index
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $103,678 |
| Burden Index | 15.3% (High) |
| National Median (Infant Center) | $174/wk |
How does Will County compare?
At $304/wk for infant center care, Will County runs 75% above the national median of $174/wk.
The Childcare Burden Index here is 15.3% 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 Will County runs $187/wk for infants — about 38% less than center-based care, or $6,081 in annual savings. School-age care is the cheapest category at $58/wk (center) or $40/wk (family).
More about Will 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.