Is Childcare Affordable in Carlton County, MN?
No — infant childcare in Carlton County, MN is not affordable by the federal benchmark. At $10,972 per year, center-based infant care consumes 14.7% of the $74,660 median household income — 2.1× the 7% the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services treats as affordable. A household would need to earn about $156,743 a year ($82,083 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 Carlton County, infant center care costs $10,972/yr against a median household income of $74,660, a burden of 14.7% — 2.1× the 7% ceiling.
To bring infant center care under the 7% line, a Carlton County household would need to earn about $156,743/yr — roughly $82,083 above the local median of $74,660. Put differently, a median-income family pays 14.7% of everything they earn before tax just for one infant in center-based care.
The cheapest path is family-based home care at $177/wk ($9,187/yr), which works out to 12.3% of median income — still above the 7% threshold, but 16% 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) | 14.7% (Moderate) |
| HHS Affordability Threshold | 7.0% |
| Income Needed to Be Affordable | $156,743/yr |
| Median Household Income | $74,660 |
| Family-Care Burden (cheapest) | 12.3% |
Cost by Care Type
| Age Group | Center/Wk | Family/Wk |
|---|---|---|
| Infant (0-1) | $211 | $177 |
| Toddler (1-2) | $197 | $150 |
| Preschool (3-5) | $182 | $153 |
| School-Age (6+) | $163 | $143 |
How does Carlton County compare?
At $211/wk for infant center care, Carlton County runs 22% above the national median of $174/wk.
The Childcare Burden Index here is 14.7% 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 Carlton County runs $177/wk for infants — about 16% less than center-based care, or $1,785 in annual savings. School-age care is the cheapest category at $163/wk (center) or $143/wk (family).
More about Carlton 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.
A practical caveat: the headline answer above reflects the most recent the DOL National Database of Childcare Prices vintage; underlying data is often revised for months after first publication, and the right reference for any specific decision is whichever vintage is current at the time of the decision. The as-of date is stamped on every page.
Source: U.S. Department of Labor Women’s Bureau Childcare Prices, 2026.