Santa Cruz County, CA
Infant daycare in Santa Cruz County, CA costs $477 per week ($24,798 per year) for center-based care, and $408 per week for family daycare. With a median household income of $104,409, the childcare burden is 23.8% of income, well above the 7% threshold HUD considers affordable. This is above the national median of $174/wk.
Cost Breakdown by Age Group
| Age Group | Center/Wk | Center/Yr | Family/Wk | Family/Yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Infant (0-1) | $477 | $24,798 | $408 | $21,200 |
| Toddler (1-2) | $326 | $16,941 | $335 | $17,399 |
| Preschool (3-5) | $256 | $13,292 | $314 | $16,324 |
| School-Age (6+) | $142 | $7,396 | $227 | $11,789 |
Santa Cruz County Childcare FAQ
Center-based infant care in Santa Cruz County costs $477 per week ($24,798 per year). Family-based infant care costs $408 per week ($21,200 per year). Data from the DOL National Database of Childcare Prices.
The Childcare Burden Index for Santa Cruz County is 23.8%, rated "Severe". This means a family earning the median income of $104,409 would spend about 23.8% of their income on infant center-based childcare.
The national median weekly infant center care cost is $174. Santa Cruz County at $477/wk is 175% above the national median. Annualized, infant center care in Santa Cruz County costs $24,798 per year.
In Santa Cruz County, CA, the most affordable option is typically family-based (home) daycare. Infant family daycare costs $408/wk compared to $477/wk for center-based. For preschool-age children, family daycare is $314/wk vs $256/wk at a center. School-age after-care is the least expensive category at $227/wk (family) or $142/wk (center).
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Childcare costs are weekly median prices from the DOL. Burden Index = annual infant center care / median household income.