Can a typical family afford childcare in Burke County, ND?

For most families, no. At $11,249/yr (11.9% of the $94,583 median household income), infant center care in Burke County costs 1.7× the 7% HHS affordability threshold. A household would need to earn roughly $160,700/yr — about $66,117 above the local median — for this care to count as affordable. Even cheaper family-based home care runs 8.7% of income, still above the 7% line.

What income do you need to afford daycare in Burke County, ND?

For infant center care ($11,249/yr) to stay within the 7% HHS affordability threshold, a household would need to earn about $160,700 a year. The local median household income is $94,583, a gap of $66,117. These figures cover one child; a second child in care roughly doubles the income you'd need.

What's cheaper, a daycare center or family daycare in Burke County?

Family-based (home) daycare is the cheaper option in Burke County. Infant family daycare runs $159/wk versus $216/wk for a center — about 26% less per week. Annualized, that's $2,979 in savings per year. Center-based care offers more structured curricula and staff redundancy; family daycare is run out of a provider's home with smaller group sizes and often more flexible hours.

How much does childcare cost in Burke County, ND?

Infant center-based childcare in Burke County, ND costs $216 per week ($11,249 per year), based on DOL data. Family-based infant care is $159 per week ($8,270 per year). With a median household income of $94,583, the childcare burden index is 11.9% of income. The national median weekly infant center care cost is $174 for comparison.

How does Burke County compare to the rest of ND?

Burke County is one of the counties tracked in ND for the DOL National Database of Childcare Prices. See the full state ranking for direct comparison.

Is Childcare Affordable in Burke County, ND?

No — infant childcare in Burke County, ND is not affordable by the federal benchmark. At $11,249 per year, center-based infant care consumes 11.9% of the $94,583 median household income — 1.7× the 7% the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services treats as affordable. A household would need to earn about $160,700 a year ($66,117 more than the local median) for this care to fall under the 7% line.

The Affordability Math

Affordability isn't about the sticker price — it's the share of income childcare eats. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services sets the line at 7% of household income. In Burke County, infant center care costs $11,249/yr against a median household income of $94,583, a burden of 11.9% — 1.7× the 7% ceiling.

To bring infant center care under the 7% line, a Burke County household would need to earn about $160,700/yr — roughly $66,117 above the local median of $94,583. Put differently, a median-income family pays 11.9% of everything they earn before tax just for one infant in center-based care.

The cheapest path is family-based home care at $159/wk ($8,270/yr), which works out to 8.7% of median income — still above the 7% threshold, but 26% cheaper than a center. Income-eligible families can also apply for the federal Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) subsidy, which caps copays at 7% of income by design — see the subsidy options below.

Affordability Measure	Value
Burden Index (infant center)	11.9% (Moderate)
HHS Affordability Threshold	7.0%
Income Needed to Be Affordable	$160,700/yr
Median Household Income	$94,583
Family-Care Burden (cheapest)	8.7%

Cost by Care Type

Age Group	Center/Wk	Family/Wk
Infant (0-1)	$216	$159
Toddler (1-2)	$198	$150
Preschool (3-5)	$183	$151
School-Age (6+)	$179	$156

How does Burke County compare?

At $216/wk for infant center care, Burke County runs 25% above the national median of $174/wk.

The Childcare Burden Index here is 11.9% 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 Burke County runs $159/wk for infants — about 26% less than center-based care, or $2,979 in annual savings. School-age care is the cheapest category at $179/wk (center) or $156/wk (family).

View full Burke County childcare data →See all ND county rankings →Most expensive childcare areas →Try the affordability calculator →

More about Burke County

How much does childcare cost in Burke County, ND? →

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.