Is Childcare Affordable in Yellow Medicine County, MN?
No — infant childcare in Yellow Medicine County, MN is not affordable by the federal benchmark. At $10,331 per year, center-based infant care consumes 14.6% of the $70,605 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 $147,586 a year ($76,981 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 Yellow Medicine County, infant center care costs $10,331/yr against a median household income of $70,605, a burden of 14.6% — 2.1× the 7% ceiling.
To bring infant center care under the 7% line, a Yellow Medicine County household would need to earn about $147,586/yr — roughly $76,981 above the local median of $70,605. Put differently, a median-income family pays 14.6% of everything they earn before tax just for one infant in center-based care.
The cheapest path is family-based home care at $128/wk ($6,673/yr), which works out to 9.5% 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) | 14.6% (Moderate) |
| HHS Affordability Threshold | 7.0% |
| Income Needed to Be Affordable | $147,586/yr |
| Median Household Income | $70,605 |
| Family-Care Burden (cheapest) | 9.5% |
Cost by Care Type
| Age Group | Center/Wk | Family/Wk |
|---|---|---|
| Infant (0-1) | $199 | $128 |
| Toddler (1-2) | $191 | $130 |
| Preschool (3-5) | $177 | $130 |
| School-Age (6+) | $163 | $120 |
How does Yellow Medicine County compare?
At $199/wk for infant center care, Yellow Medicine County runs 14% above the national median of $174/wk.
The Childcare Burden Index here is 14.6% 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 Yellow Medicine County runs $128/wk for infants — about 35% less than center-based care, or $3,658 in annual savings. School-age care is the cheapest category at $163/wk (center) or $120/wk (family).
More about Yellow Medicine 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.