Disclaimer
Last updated: April 2026
Informational use only
ChildcareCost publishes data, scores, rankings, and analysis about U.S. childcare prices by county and age group. Everything on childcarecost.org is provided for general informational and educational purposes only. It is not professional advice and should not be relied on as the sole basis for any consequential decision.
Nothing on childcarecost.org constitutes financial, legal, medical, tax, investment, real-estate, insurance, or engineering advice. Always consult a qualified, licensed professional for decisions that affect your money, health, safety, legal status, or property.
Data source and accuracy
The underlying data displayed on childcarecost.org is derived from the DOL National Database of Childcare Prices. We do our best to process that data faithfully, but we make no representations or warranties — express or implied — about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability, or availability of any information, analysis, or related graphics.
Source records may contain errors, be incomplete, be reported late, or be restated by the issuing agency after publication. Where the source corrects a record, ChildcareCost will follow on the next refresh — but there may be a lag. Always verify any figure against the original source before acting on it.
How we process this data: We use the DOL National Database of Childcare Prices to surface county-level weekly prices for infant, toddler, preschool, and school-age care, broken out by center-based and family-based providers. Prices are shown both nominally and as a share of median household income in the same county.
Refresh cadence: Refreshed once per year when DOL publishes a new NDCP vintage, typically in the fall.
Known limitations of this source: NDCP prices are modeled from state licensing records and surveys, not live rate sheets — actual tuition at a given provider may be 20-30 percent higher or lower. Coverage is strongest for counties with robust state childcare data and thinner for rural and territorial counties.
No warranties
childcarecost.org is provided on an "as is" and "as available" basis, without warranty of any kind, either express or implied, including but not limited to warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, non-infringement, or course of performance.
No professional relationship
Reading, using, linking to, or sharing childcarecost.org does not create any advisor-client, attorney-client, doctor-patient, or fiduciary relationship between you and ChildcareCost or its operators.
Third-party links and advertising
childcarecost.org contains links to third-party websites and displays advertisements served by third parties (including Google AdSense). We do not endorse, control, or assume responsibility for the content, products, services, or practices of any third party. Following a link or clicking an ad is at your own risk.
Rankings and scores
Any rankings, grades, or composite scores published on childcarecost.org are editorial opinions derived from public data using documented methodologies. They are not professional certifications, accreditations, or endorsements, and they are not a substitute for independent due diligence.
Limitation of liability
In no event will ChildcareCost, its operators, contributors, or data providers be liable for any loss or damage — including, without limitation, indirect, incidental, consequential, or punitive damages, or any loss of profits, data, or goodwill — arising out of or in connection with the use of childcarecost.org or reliance on any information it contains.
External sites
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Changes to this disclaimer
We may update this disclaimer at any time. Continued use of childcarecost.org after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the updated disclaimer. The "Last updated" date above reflects the most recent revision.
Contact
Questions about this disclaimer or a specific page? [email protected].