ChildcareCost
DOL Data · 2022

Watauga County, NC

Infant daycare in Watauga County, NC costs $180 per week ($9,380 per year) for center-based care, and $158 per week for family daycare. With a median household income of $50,034, the childcare burden is 18.7% of income, well above the 7% threshold HUD considers affordable. This is above the national median of $174/wk.

Infant Center (Weekly)
$180
$9,380/yr
Infant Family (Weekly)
$158
$8,235/yr
Median Income
$50,034
Burden Index
18.7%
High

Cost Breakdown by Age Group

Age GroupCenter/WkCenter/YrFamily/WkFamily/Yr
Infant (0-1)$180$9,380$158$8,235
Toddler (1-2)$150$7,799$124$6,432
Preschool (3-5)$162$8,400$155$8,059
School-Age (6+)$125$6,481$143$7,428
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Watauga County Childcare FAQ

Center-based infant care in Watauga County costs $180 per week ($9,380 per year). Family-based infant care costs $158 per week ($8,235 per year). Data from the DOL National Database of Childcare Prices.

The Childcare Burden Index for Watauga County is 18.7%, rated "High". This means a family earning the median income of $50,034 would spend about 18.7% of their income on infant center-based childcare.

The national median weekly infant center care cost is $174. Watauga County at $180/wk is 4% above the national median. Annualized, infant center care in Watauga County costs $9,380 per year.

In Watauga County, NC, the most affordable option is typically family-based (home) daycare. Infant family daycare costs $158/wk compared to $180/wk for center-based. For preschool-age children, family daycare is $155/wk vs $162/wk at a center. School-age after-care is the least expensive category at $143/wk (family) or $125/wk (center).

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