Is Childcare Affordable in New Castle County, DE?
No — infant childcare in New Castle County, DE is not affordable by the federal benchmark. At $14,575 per year, center-based infant care consumes 17.1% of the $85,309 median household income — 2.4× the 7% the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services treats as affordable. A household would need to earn about $208,214 a year ($122,905 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 New Castle County, infant center care costs $14,575/yr against a median household income of $85,309, a burden of 17.1% — 2.4× the 7% ceiling.
To bring infant center care under the 7% line, a New Castle County household would need to earn about $208,214/yr — roughly $122,905 above the local median of $85,309. Put differently, a median-income family pays 17.1% of everything they earn before tax just for one infant in center-based care.
The cheapest path is family-based home care at $182/wk ($9,447/yr), which works out to 11.1% of median income — still above the 7% threshold, but 35% 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) | 17.1% (High) |
| HHS Affordability Threshold | 7.0% |
| Income Needed to Be Affordable | $208,214/yr |
| Median Household Income | $85,309 |
| Family-Care Burden (cheapest) | 11.1% |
Cost by Care Type
| Age Group | Center/Wk | Family/Wk |
|---|---|---|
| Infant (0-1) | $280 | $182 |
| Toddler (1-2) | $199 | $154 |
| Preschool (3-5) | $210 | $155 |
| School-Age (6+) | $106 | $86 |
How does New Castle County compare?
At $280/wk for infant center care, New Castle County runs 61% above the national median of $174/wk.
The Childcare Burden Index here is 17.1% 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 New Castle County runs $182/wk for infants — about 35% less than center-based care, or $5,128 in annual savings. School-age care is the cheapest category at $106/wk (center) or $86/wk (family).
More about New Castle 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.