Kentucky Childcare Cost Rankings
Kentucky counties ranked by infant center care cost, from most expensive to most affordable. The most expensive is Gallatin County at $222/wk, and the most affordable is Wayne County at $90/wk.
Across 120 Kentucky counties with DOL pricing data, the median weekly cost of infant center daycare is $128 ($6,642 per year). That puts Kentucky 26% below the U.S. national median of $174/wk. Within the state, prices vary widely — Gallatin County runs $222/wk while Wayne County runs just $90/wk, a 146% gap between most and least expensive county.
The Childcare Burden Index measures annual infant center cost as a share of local median household income. Across Kentucky, 38 of 120 ranked counties (32%) carry a "High" or "Severe" burden — a family earning the local median income would spend 15% or more of gross pay on daycare alone. 7 Kentucky counties are classified as "Severe" (burden ≥ 20%). The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services treats childcare as affordable only when it costs no more than 7% of household income. The single highest-burden Kentucky county is Estill County at 26.5% of median income.
All figures come from the U.S. Department of Labor's National Database of Childcare Prices (2022), with median household income from the U.S. Census Bureau ACS. The DOL collects pricing through state-level market rate surveys conducted under the federal Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) program — these are the same numbers state agencies use to set childcare subsidy reimbursement rates.
Top 3 Most Expensive Counties
Gallatin County, KY
Median income $58,641
Most expensive county for infant center daycare in Kentucky at $222/wk ($11,555/yr). Family-based daycare runs $186/wk, about 16% cheaper. Childcare burden of 19.7% well exceeds the 7% HHS affordability threshold.
Nicholas County, KY
Median income $57,539
Second-most expensive at $222/wk for infant center care. Infant family daycare $186/wk ($9,689/yr).
Owen County, KY
Median income $56,485
Third-most expensive at $222/wk. Preschool center care drops to $189/wk as ratios loosen.
| Rank | County | Infant/Wk | Annual | Burden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Gallatin County | $222 | $11,555 | 19.7% High |
| #2 | Nicholas County | $222 | $11,555 | 20.1% Severe |
| #3 | Owen County | $222 | $11,555 | 20.5% Severe |
| #4 | Pendleton County | $222 | $11,555 | 19.7% High |
| #5 | Jefferson County | $216 | $11,236 | 16.9% High |
| #6 | Carroll County | $212 | $11,048 | 21.8% Severe |
| #7 | Grant County | $212 | $11,048 | 16.9% High |
| #8 | Harrison County | $212 | $11,048 | 18.8% High |
| #9 | Scott County | $212 | $11,048 | 13.7% Moderate |
| #10 | Estill County | $204 | $10,603 | 26.5% Severe |
| #11 | Garrard County | $204 | $10,603 | 18.2% High |
| #12 | Lincoln County | $204 | $10,603 | 21.4% Severe |
| #13 | Boone County | $199 | $10,342 | 11.3% Moderate |
| #14 | Campbell County | $199 | $10,342 | 14.4% Moderate |
| #15 | Kenton County | $199 | $10,342 | 13.6% Moderate |
| #16 | Bourbon County | $196 | $10,182 | 18.7% High |
| #17 | Mercer County | $195 | $10,126 | 16.7% High |
| #18 | Powell County | $195 | $10,126 | 26.4% Severe |
| #19 | Fayette County | $184 | $9,584 | 14.5% Moderate |
| #20 | Boyle County | $181 | $9,433 | 16.7% High |
| #21 | Clark County | $181 | $9,433 | 15.2% High |
| #22 | Jessamine County | $181 | $9,433 | 13.5% Moderate |
| #23 | Madison County | $181 | $9,433 | 15.8% High |
| #24 | Breckinridge County | $169 | $8,789 | 17.0% High |
| #25 | Grayson County | $169 | $8,789 | 18.7% High |
| #26 | Larue County | $169 | $8,789 | 15.2% High |
| #27 | Marion County | $169 | $8,789 | 17.7% High |
| #28 | Meade County | $169 | $8,789 | 12.8% Moderate |
| #29 | Washington County | $169 | $8,789 | 13.4% Moderate |
| #30 | Nelson County | $161 | $8,388 | 12.7% Moderate |
| #31 | Henry County | $159 | $8,269 | 14.2% Moderate |
| #32 | Spencer County | $159 | $8,269 | 8.2% Affordable |
| #33 | Trimble County | $159 | $8,269 | 12.4% Moderate |
| #34 | Anderson County | $151 | $7,868 | 11.3% Moderate |
| #35 | Bullitt County | $151 | $7,868 | 10.6% Moderate |
| #36 | Hardin County | $151 | $7,868 | 12.3% Moderate |
| #37 | Oldham County | $151 | $7,868 | 6.7% Affordable |
| #38 | Shelby County | $151 | $7,868 | 9.7% Affordable |
| #39 | Woodford County | $151 | $7,868 | 10.0% Moderate |
| #40 | Allen County | $142 | $7,388 | 12.9% Moderate |
| #41 | Butler County | $142 | $7,388 | 15.5% High |
| #42 | Edmonson County | $142 | $7,388 | 13.9% Moderate |
| #43 | Hancock County | $142 | $7,388 | 10.8% Moderate |
| #44 | Hart County | $142 | $7,388 | 16.2% High |
| #45 | Logan County | $142 | $7,388 | 12.6% Moderate |
| #46 | McLean County | $142 | $7,388 | 11.5% Moderate |
| #47 | Metcalfe County | $142 | $7,388 | 15.7% High |
| #48 | Monroe County | $142 | $7,388 | 15.6% High |
| #49 | Ohio County | $142 | $7,388 | 14.1% Moderate |
| #50 | Webster County | $142 | $7,388 | 13.3% Moderate |
| #51 | Simpson County | $135 | $7,031 | 12.6% Moderate |
| #52 | Union County | $135 | $7,031 | 12.1% Moderate |
| #53 | Franklin County | $135 | $7,001 | 11.1% Moderate |
| #54 | Ballard County | $128 | $6,642 | 11.6% Moderate |
| #55 | Carlisle County | $128 | $6,642 | 12.5% Moderate |
| #56 | Crittenden County | $128 | $6,642 | 14.5% Moderate |
| #57 | Hickman County | $128 | $6,642 | 9.7% Affordable |
| #58 | Livingston County | $128 | $6,642 | 11.8% Moderate |
| #59 | Lyon County | $128 | $6,642 | 10.4% Moderate |
| #60 | Marshall County | $128 | $6,642 | 10.3% Moderate |
| #61 | Todd County | $128 | $6,642 | 11.5% Moderate |
| #62 | Trigg County | $128 | $6,642 | 11.9% Moderate |
| #63 | Barren County | $125 | $6,511 | 13.5% Moderate |
| #64 | Daviess County | $125 | $6,511 | 10.2% Moderate |
| #65 | Henderson County | $125 | $6,511 | 11.4% Moderate |
| #66 | Warren County | $125 | $6,511 | 10.3% Moderate |
| #67 | Caldwell County | $121 | $6,309 | 12.0% Moderate |
| #68 | Fulton County | $121 | $6,309 | 17.8% High |
| #69 | Hopkins County | $121 | $6,309 | 11.6% Moderate |
| #70 | Muhlenberg County | $121 | $6,309 | 12.4% Moderate |
| #71 | Bath County | $113 | $5,895 | 11.5% Moderate |
| #72 | Bracken County | $113 | $5,895 | 9.8% Affordable |
| #73 | Breathitt County | $113 | $5,895 | 15.4% High |
| #74 | Carter County | $113 | $5,895 | 12.5% Moderate |
| #75 | Elliott County | $113 | $5,895 | 14.9% Moderate |
| #76 | Fleming County | $113 | $5,895 | 12.6% Moderate |
| #77 | Floyd County | $113 | $5,895 | 15.2% High |
| #78 | Johnson County | $113 | $5,895 | 13.3% Moderate |
| #79 | Knott County | $113 | $5,895 | 15.4% High |
| #80 | Lawrence County | $113 | $5,895 | 13.9% Moderate |
| #81 | Lee County | $113 | $5,895 | 18.6% High |
| #82 | Leslie County | $113 | $5,895 | 15.9% High |
| #83 | Letcher County | $113 | $5,895 | 15.3% High |
| #84 | Lewis County | $113 | $5,895 | 16.1% High |
| #85 | Magoffin County | $113 | $5,895 | 18.5% High |
| #86 | Martin County | $113 | $5,895 | 13.0% Moderate |
| #87 | Menifee County | $113 | $5,895 | 13.5% Moderate |
| #88 | Morgan County | $113 | $5,895 | 12.8% Moderate |
| #89 | Owsley County | $113 | $5,895 | 17.9% High |
| #90 | Perry County | $113 | $5,895 | 13.0% Moderate |
| #91 | Pike County | $113 | $5,895 | 14.3% Moderate |
| #92 | Robertson County | $113 | $5,895 | 11.0% Moderate |
| #93 | Wolfe County | $113 | $5,895 | 20.6% Severe |
| #94 | Calloway County | $111 | $5,789 | 12.0% Moderate |
| #95 | Christian County | $111 | $5,789 | 11.8% Moderate |
| #96 | Graves County | $111 | $5,789 | 11.0% Moderate |
| #97 | McCracken County | $111 | $5,789 | 9.9% Affordable |
| #98 | Boyd County | $107 | $5,586 | 9.6% Affordable |
| #99 | Greenup County | $107 | $5,586 | 9.5% Affordable |
| #100 | Mason County | $107 | $5,586 | 11.5% Moderate |
| #101 | Montgomery County | $107 | $5,586 | 10.5% Moderate |
| #102 | Rowan County | $107 | $5,586 | 11.2% Moderate |
| #103 | Clay County | $106 | $5,521 | 14.6% Moderate |
| #104 | Jackson County | $106 | $5,521 | 14.3% Moderate |
| #105 | Rockcastle County | $106 | $5,521 | 12.1% Moderate |
| #106 | Pulaski County | $104 | $5,423 | 11.1% Moderate |
| #107 | Taylor County | $104 | $5,423 | 8.6% Affordable |
| #108 | Bell County | $100 | $5,224 | 15.5% High |
| #109 | Harlan County | $100 | $5,224 | 14.9% Moderate |
| #110 | Knox County | $100 | $5,224 | 15.3% High |
| #111 | Laurel County | $100 | $5,224 | 9.7% Affordable |
| #112 | Whitley County | $100 | $5,224 | 11.8% Moderate |
| #113 | Adair County | $96 | $5,001 | 10.1% Moderate |
| #114 | Casey County | $96 | $5,001 | 11.9% Moderate |
| #115 | Clinton County | $96 | $5,001 | 12.1% Moderate |
| #116 | Cumberland County | $96 | $5,001 | 12.3% Moderate |
| #117 | Green County | $96 | $5,001 | 13.0% Moderate |
| #118 | McCreary County | $96 | $5,001 | 14.3% Moderate |
| #119 | Russell County | $96 | $5,001 | 10.4% Moderate |
| #120 | Wayne County | $90 | $4,704 | 11.3% Moderate |
Kentucky Childcare Cost FAQ
Gallatin County is the most expensive county for infant center daycare in Kentucky at $222/wk ($11,555 per year). The Childcare Burden Index there is 19.7% of median household income ($58,641).
Wayne County has the lowest infant center daycare cost in Kentucky at $90/wk ($4,704 per year). Across the 120 Kentucky counties with DOL pricing data, the spread between most and least expensive is 146%.
The median weekly infant center care cost in Kentucky is $128. The U.S. national median is $174, so Kentucky runs 26% below the national median. Annualized, the typical Kentucky family pays $6,642 per year for infant center daycare.
38 of 120 Kentucky counties (32%) have a Childcare Burden Index of 15% or higher — meaning a family earning the local median income would spend at least 15% of gross income on infant center daycare. 7 Kentucky counties are classified as "Severe" (burden ≥ 20%). The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services treats childcare as affordable when it costs no more than 7% of household income.
Family-based (home) daycare is typically 20-30% cheaper than center-based care across the country, and Kentucky follows the same pattern. Each county page shows the exact infant family vs. infant center weekly rate, plus toddler, preschool, and school-age figures for both setting types. School-age care is usually the cheapest category, since school-age children only need before- and after-school coverage rather than full days.
The this entity category groups every U.S. childcare prices entity sharing this attribute. The list above is the data; the paragraphs below explain what the grouping means against the broader the DOL National Database of Childcare Prices distribution and how to read the relative rankings within the category.
For readers using this category as a starting point, the per-entity detail pages linked from the table above carry the underlying the DOL National Database of Childcare Prices data in full. The category-level view is the filter; the per-entity pages are the actual answer.