Can a typical family afford childcare in Washtenaw County, MI?

For most families, no. At $11,866/yr (14.1% of the $84,245 median household income), infant center care in Washtenaw County costs 2.0× the 7% HHS affordability threshold. A household would need to earn roughly $169,514/yr — about $85,269 above the local median — for this care to count as affordable. Even cheaper family-based home care runs 14.8% of income, still above the 7% line.

What income do you need to afford daycare in Washtenaw County, MI?

For infant center care ($11,866/yr) to stay within the 7% HHS affordability threshold, a household would need to earn about $169,514 a year. The local median household income is $84,245, a gap of $85,269. 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 Washtenaw County?

Family daycare data is limited or comparable to center-based care in Washtenaw County. National DOL data shows family-based infant care typically runs 20-30% below center-based care, but Washtenaw County is an exception or has incomplete family-care reporting.

How much does childcare cost in Washtenaw County, MI?

Infant center-based childcare in Washtenaw County, MI costs $228 per week ($11,866 per year), based on DOL data. Family-based infant care is $240 per week ($12,480 per year). With a median household income of $84,245, the childcare burden index is 14.1% of income. The national median weekly infant center care cost is $174 for comparison.

How does Washtenaw County compare to the rest of MI?

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

Is Childcare Affordable in Washtenaw County, MI?

No — infant childcare in Washtenaw County, MI is not affordable by the federal benchmark. At $11,866 per year, center-based infant care consumes 14.1% of the $84,245 median household income — 2.0× the 7% the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services treats as affordable. A household would need to earn about $169,514 a year ($85,269 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 Washtenaw County, infant center care costs $11,866/yr against a median household income of $84,245, a burden of 14.1% — 2.0× the 7% ceiling.

To bring infant center care under the 7% line, a Washtenaw County household would need to earn about $169,514/yr — roughly $85,269 above the local median of $84,245. Put differently, a median-income family pays 14.1% of everything they earn before tax just for one infant in center-based care.

The cheapest path is family-based home care at $240/wk ($12,480/yr), which works out to 14.8% of median income — still above the 7% threshold, but the lower-cost option. 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)	14.1% (Moderate)
HHS Affordability Threshold	7.0%
Income Needed to Be Affordable	$169,514/yr
Median Household Income	$84,245
Family-Care Burden (cheapest)	14.8%

Cost by Care Type

Age Group	Center/Wk	Family/Wk
Infant (0-1)	$228	$240
Toddler (1-2)	$228	$240
Preschool (3-5)	$224	$222
School-Age (6+)	$205	$243

How does Washtenaw County compare?

At $228/wk for infant center care, Washtenaw County runs 31% above the national median of $174/wk.

The Childcare Burden Index here is 14.1% of median household income — a moderate burden, above the 7% HHS affordability threshold.

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

More about Washtenaw County

How much does childcare cost in Washtenaw County, MI? →

This answer pulls from the DOL National Database of Childcare Prices, the authoritative federal source for U.S. childcare prices. The headline number above is the direct answer; what follows is the additional context most readers need to use the answer for a real decision rather than just a fact lookup.

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.