Is Childcare Affordable in Ketchikan Gateway Borough, AK?
No — infant childcare in Ketchikan Gateway Borough, AK is not affordable by the federal benchmark. At $16,223 per year, center-based infant care consumes 19.6% of the $82,763 median household income — 2.8× the 7% the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services treats as affordable. A household would need to earn about $231,757 a year ($148,994 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 Ketchikan Gateway Borough, infant center care costs $16,223/yr against a median household income of $82,763, a burden of 19.6% — 2.8× the 7% ceiling.
To bring infant center care under the 7% line, a Ketchikan Gateway Borough household would need to earn about $231,757/yr — roughly $148,994 above the local median of $82,763. Put differently, a median-income family pays 19.6% of everything they earn before tax just for one infant in center-based care.
The cheapest path is family-based home care at $141/wk ($7,339/yr), which works out to 8.9% of median income — still above the 7% threshold, but 55% 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) | 19.6% (High) |
| HHS Affordability Threshold | 7.0% |
| Income Needed to Be Affordable | $231,757/yr |
| Median Household Income | $82,763 |
| Family-Care Burden (cheapest) | 8.9% |
Cost by Care Type
| Age Group | Center/Wk | Family/Wk |
|---|---|---|
| Infant (0-1) | $312 | $141 |
| Toddler (1-2) | $267 | $147 |
| Preschool (3-5) | $248 | $154 |
| School-Age (6+) | $126 | $0 |
How does Ketchikan Gateway Borough compare?
At $312/wk for infant center care, Ketchikan Gateway Borough runs 80% above the national median of $174/wk.
The Childcare Burden Index here is 19.6% 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 Ketchikan Gateway Borough runs $141/wk for infants — about 55% less than center-based care, or $8,884 in annual savings. School-age care is the cheapest category at $126/wk (center) or $0/wk (family).
More about Ketchikan Gateway Borough
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.