Is Childcare Affordable in Forsyth County, GA?
No — infant childcare in Forsyth County, GA is not affordable by the federal benchmark. At $10,660 per year, center-based infant care consumes 8.1% of the $131,660 median household income — 1.2× the 7% the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services treats as affordable. A household would need to earn about $152,286 a year ($20,626 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 Forsyth County, infant center care costs $10,660/yr against a median household income of $131,660, a burden of 8.1% — 1.2× the 7% ceiling.
To bring infant center care under the 7% line, a Forsyth County household would need to earn about $152,286/yr — roughly $20,626 above the local median of $131,660. Put differently, a median-income family pays 8.1% of everything they earn before tax just for one infant in center-based care.
The cheapest path is family-based home care at $163/wk ($8,476/yr), which works out to 6.4% of median income — within the affordable range. 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) | 8.1% (Affordable) |
| HHS Affordability Threshold | 7.0% |
| Income Needed to Be Affordable | $152,286/yr |
| Median Household Income | $131,660 |
| Family-Care Burden (cheapest) | 6.4% |
Cost by Care Type
| Age Group | Center/Wk | Family/Wk |
|---|---|---|
| Infant (0-1) | $205 | $163 |
| Toddler (1-2) | $188 | $153 |
| Preschool (3-5) | $179 | $154 |
| School-Age (6+) | $82 | $77 |
How does Forsyth County compare?
At $205/wk for infant center care, Forsyth County runs 18% above the national median of $174/wk.
The Childcare Burden Index here is 8.1% of median household income — within the 7% range HHS treats as affordable.
For families looking to lower the bill, family-based (home) daycare in Forsyth County runs $163/wk for infants — about 20% less than center-based care, or $2,184 in annual savings. School-age care is the cheapest category at $82/wk (center) or $77/wk (family).
More about Forsyth 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.