ChildcareCost
DOL Data · 2022

Merced County, CA

Infant daycare in Merced County, CA costs $245 per week ($12,716 per year) for center-based care, and $231 per week for family daycare. With a median household income of $64,772, the childcare burden is 19.6% of income, well above the 7% threshold HUD considers affordable. This is above the national median of $174/wk.

Infant Center (Weekly)
$245
$12,716/yr
Infant Family (Weekly)
$231
$11,996/yr
Median Income
$64,772
Burden Index
19.6%
High

Cost Breakdown by Age Group

Age GroupCenter/WkCenter/YrFamily/WkFamily/Yr
Infant (0-1)$245$12,716$231$11,996
Toddler (1-2)$199$10,364$202$10,525
Preschool (3-5)$165$8,582$191$9,911
School-Age (6+)$75$3,912$182$9,451
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Merced County Childcare FAQ

Center-based infant care in Merced County costs $245 per week ($12,716 per year). Family-based infant care costs $231 per week ($11,996 per year). Data from the DOL National Database of Childcare Prices.

The Childcare Burden Index for Merced County is 19.6%, rated "High". This means a family earning the median income of $64,772 would spend about 19.6% of their income on infant center-based childcare.

The national median weekly infant center care cost is $174. Merced County at $245/wk is 41% above the national median. Annualized, infant center care in Merced County costs $12,716 per year.

In Merced County, CA, the most affordable option is typically family-based (home) daycare. Infant family daycare costs $231/wk compared to $245/wk for center-based. For preschool-age children, family daycare is $191/wk vs $165/wk at a center. School-age after-care is the least expensive category at $182/wk (family) or $75/wk (center).

Childcare costs are weekly median prices from the DOL. Burden Index = annual infant center care / median household income.