New York Childcare Cost Rankings

Nassau County is the most expensive county for infant center daycare in New York at $325/wk ($16,900 per year). The Childcare Burden Index there is 12.3% of median household income ($137,709).

Yates County has the lowest infant center daycare cost in New York at $247/wk ($12,844 per year). Across the 62 New York counties with DOL pricing data, the spread between most and least expensive is 32%.

The median weekly infant center care cost in New York is $247. The U.S. national median is $174, so New York runs 42% above the national median. Annualized, the typical New York family pays $12,844 per year for infant center daycare.

58 of 62 New York counties (94%) 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. 26 New York 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 New York 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.