Virginia Childcare Cost Rankings
Virginia counties ranked by infant center care cost, from most expensive to most affordable. The most expensive is Arlington County at $559/wk, and the most affordable is Bedford City at $101/wk.
Across 134 Virginia counties with DOL pricing data, the median weekly cost of infant center daycare is $191 ($9,943 per year). That puts Virginia 10% above the U.S. national median of $174/wk. Within the state, prices vary widely — Arlington County runs $559/wk while Bedford City runs just $101/wk, a 454% 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 Virginia, 59 of 134 ranked counties (44%) carry a "High" or "Severe" burden — a family earning the local median income would spend 15% or more of gross pay on daycare alone. 11 Virginia 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 Virginia county is Richmond City at 26.9% 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
Arlington County, VA
Median income $137,387
Most expensive county for infant center daycare in Virginia at $559/wk ($29,086/yr). Family-based daycare runs $385/wk, about 31% cheaper. Childcare burden of 21.2% well exceeds the 7% HHS affordability threshold.
Alexandria City, VA
Median income $113,179
Second-most expensive at $453/wk for infant center care. Infant family daycare $300/wk ($15,581/yr).
Falls Church City, VA
Median income $164,536
Third-most expensive at $429/wk. Preschool center care drops to $312/wk as ratios loosen.
| Rank | County | Infant/Wk | Annual | Burden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Arlington County | $559 | $29,086 | 21.2% Severe |
| #2 | Alexandria City | $453 | $23,540 | 20.8% Severe |
| #3 | Falls Church City | $429 | $22,311 | 13.6% Moderate |
| #4 | Manassas Park City | $418 | $21,716 | 23.7% Severe |
| #5 | Loudoun County | $366 | $19,027 | 11.2% Moderate |
| #6 | Fairfax County | $345 | $17,959 | 12.4% Moderate |
| #7 | Fairfax City | $345 | $17,959 | 14.0% Moderate |
| #8 | Prince William County | $312 | $16,199 | 13.1% Moderate |
| #9 | Richmond City | $308 | $16,037 | 26.9% Severe |
| #10 | Colonial Heights City | $303 | $15,766 | 21.8% Severe |
| #11 | Goochland County | $294 | $15,268 | 14.5% Moderate |
| #12 | Chesterfield County | $279 | $14,503 | 15.1% High |
| #13 | Fauquier County | $276 | $14,368 | 11.7% Moderate |
| #14 | Charlottesville City | $274 | $14,264 | 21.2% Severe |
| #15 | Albemarle County | $269 | $13,974 | 14.3% Moderate |
| #16 | Henrico County | $263 | $13,684 | 16.6% High |
| #17 | Manassas City | $258 | $13,410 | 12.1% Moderate |
| #18 | Portsmouth City | $254 | $13,211 | 23.1% Severe |
| #19 | Madison County | $253 | $13,150 | 17.6% High |
| #20 | Roanoke County | $253 | $13,150 | 16.3% High |
| #21 | Norfolk City | $247 | $12,829 | 21.0% Severe |
| #22 | Rappahannock County | $244 | $12,686 | 12.9% Moderate |
| #23 | Hanover County | $243 | $12,630 | 12.1% Moderate |
| #24 | Chesapeake City | $237 | $12,314 | 13.3% Moderate |
| #25 | Virginia Beach City | $237 | $12,314 | 14.1% Moderate |
| #26 | Orange County | $235 | $12,197 | 14.0% Moderate |
| #27 | Fredericksburg City | $235 | $12,197 | 14.6% Moderate |
| #28 | Poquoson City | $235 | $12,197 | 10.7% Moderate |
| #29 | Caroline County | $234 | $12,188 | 14.6% Moderate |
| #30 | Salem City | $233 | $12,125 | 17.7% High |
| #31 | Roanoke City | $233 | $12,093 | 23.5% Severe |
| #32 | Newport News City | $227 | $11,829 | 18.7% High |
| #33 | James City County | $227 | $11,828 | 11.7% Moderate |
| #34 | Clarke County | $223 | $11,604 | 10.8% Moderate |
| #35 | Stafford County | $223 | $11,571 | 9.0% Affordable |
| #36 | Culpeper County | $217 | $11,304 | 12.2% Moderate |
| #37 | Frederick County | $217 | $11,304 | 12.2% Moderate |
| #38 | Hampton City | $216 | $11,238 | 17.4% High |
| #39 | Winchester City | $216 | $11,238 | 18.0% High |
| #40 | Williamsburg City | $213 | $11,089 | 16.6% High |
| #41 | Spotsylvania County | $213 | $11,057 | 10.5% Moderate |
| #42 | York County | $211 | $10,993 | 10.5% Moderate |
| #43 | Gloucester County | $210 | $10,905 | 13.0% Moderate |
| #44 | King and Queen County | $210 | $10,905 | 15.5% High |
| #45 | Lancaster County | $210 | $10,905 | 17.4% High |
| #46 | Middlesex County | $210 | $10,905 | 15.7% High |
| #47 | Northumberland County | $210 | $10,905 | 16.9% High |
| #48 | Surry County | $210 | $10,905 | 15.9% High |
| #49 | Westmoreland County | $210 | $10,905 | 19.3% High |
| #50 | Hopewell City | $210 | $10,905 | 21.5% Severe |
| #51 | Staunton City | $210 | $10,905 | 18.3% High |
| #52 | Powhatan County | $208 | $10,799 | 10.0% Moderate |
| #53 | Franklin City | $204 | $10,584 | 18.4% High |
| #54 | Bedford County | $196 | $10,189 | 13.6% Moderate |
| #55 | Essex County | $196 | $10,169 | 19.4% High |
| #56 | Waynesboro City | $196 | $10,169 | 19.4% High |
| #57 | Augusta County | $195 | $10,115 | 13.3% Moderate |
| #58 | Dinwiddie County | $195 | $10,115 | 13.1% Moderate |
| #59 | Fluvanna County | $195 | $10,115 | 11.1% Moderate |
| #60 | Prince George County | $195 | $10,115 | 12.6% Moderate |
| #61 | Richmond County | $195 | $10,115 | 16.1% High |
| #62 | Rockingham County | $195 | $10,115 | 13.8% Moderate |
| #63 | Sussex County | $195 | $10,115 | 17.1% High |
| #64 | Charles City County | $193 | $10,055 | 15.3% High |
| #65 | Emporia City | $193 | $10,028 | 24.2% Severe |
| #66 | Highland County | $191 | $9,943 | 17.4% High |
| #67 | Louisa County | $191 | $9,943 | 13.0% Moderate |
| #68 | Page County | $191 | $9,943 | 17.5% High |
| #69 | Accomack County | $190 | $9,870 | 18.7% High |
| #70 | Northampton County | $190 | $9,870 | 18.0% High |
| #71 | Suffolk City | $189 | $9,851 | 11.2% Moderate |
| #72 | Isle of Wight County | $189 | $9,817 | 10.7% Moderate |
| #73 | Rockbridge County | $189 | $9,817 | 15.9% High |
| #74 | Lexington City | $189 | $9,817 | 10.5% Moderate |
| #75 | King George County | $188 | $9,771 | 9.5% Affordable |
| #76 | Harrisonburg City | $188 | $9,751 | 17.4% High |
| #77 | Montgomery County | $186 | $9,653 | 14.8% Moderate |
| #78 | Nelson County | $185 | $9,622 | 15.0% High |
| #79 | Southampton County | $184 | $9,571 | 14.1% Moderate |
| #80 | King William County | $183 | $9,514 | 12.0% Moderate |
| #81 | New Kent County | $183 | $9,514 | 8.4% Affordable |
| #82 | Bath County | $178 | $9,234 | 16.6% High |
| #83 | Mathews County | $175 | $9,123 | 11.5% Moderate |
| #84 | Greensville County | $175 | $9,116 | 17.6% High |
| #85 | Botetourt County | $173 | $8,980 | 11.6% Moderate |
| #86 | Floyd County | $173 | $8,980 | 15.7% High |
| #87 | Franklin County | $173 | $8,980 | 13.6% Moderate |
| #88 | Giles County | $173 | $8,980 | 14.5% Moderate |
| #89 | Pulaski County | $173 | $8,980 | 15.0% High |
| #90 | Petersburg City | $173 | $8,980 | 19.1% High |
| #91 | Greene County | $172 | $8,924 | 11.0% Moderate |
| #92 | Warren County | $172 | $8,924 | 11.3% Moderate |
| #93 | Buena Vista City | $170 | $8,848 | 18.1% High |
| #94 | Amelia County | $160 | $8,339 | 13.1% Moderate |
| #95 | Mecklenburg County | $160 | $8,339 | 16.3% High |
| #96 | Alleghany County | $159 | $8,258 | 15.7% High |
| #97 | Patrick County | $159 | $8,258 | 16.8% High |
| #98 | Lynchburg City | $155 | $8,044 | 14.3% Moderate |
| #99 | Pittsylvania County | $154 | $8,030 | 15.3% High |
| #100 | Shenandoah County | $154 | $8,030 | 12.9% Moderate |
| #101 | Craig County | $154 | $7,990 | 12.1% Moderate |
| #102 | Charlotte County | $150 | $7,776 | 15.1% High |
| #103 | Cumberland County | $150 | $7,776 | 13.8% Moderate |
| #104 | Amherst County | $149 | $7,734 | 12.0% Moderate |
| #105 | Prince Edward County | $149 | $7,734 | 13.5% Moderate |
| #106 | Brunswick County | $147 | $7,668 | 14.6% Moderate |
| #107 | Covington City | $144 | $7,508 | 16.4% High |
| #108 | Radford City | $144 | $7,508 | 14.7% Moderate |
| #109 | Appomattox County | $143 | $7,456 | 12.4% Moderate |
| #110 | Bland County | $142 | $7,377 | 12.3% Moderate |
| #111 | Campbell County | $139 | $7,239 | 12.3% Moderate |
| #112 | Danville City | $139 | $7,239 | 17.5% High |
| #113 | Buckingham County | $134 | $6,971 | 11.6% Moderate |
| #114 | Halifax County | $134 | $6,971 | 14.2% Moderate |
| #115 | Lunenburg County | $134 | $6,971 | 12.8% Moderate |
| #116 | Nottoway County | $134 | $6,971 | 11.2% Moderate |
| #117 | Wythe County | $132 | $6,879 | 12.8% Moderate |
| #118 | Washington County | $132 | $6,842 | 11.6% Moderate |
| #119 | Smyth County | $130 | $6,783 | 15.1% High |
| #120 | Henry County | $129 | $6,703 | 15.3% High |
| #121 | Bristol City | $129 | $6,703 | 14.8% Moderate |
| #122 | Martinsville City | $129 | $6,703 | 17.1% High |
| #123 | Buchanan County | $119 | $6,167 | 15.6% High |
| #124 | Carroll County | $119 | $6,167 | 12.6% Moderate |
| #125 | Dickenson County | $119 | $6,167 | 15.4% High |
| #126 | Grayson County | $119 | $6,167 | 14.2% Moderate |
| #127 | Lee County | $119 | $6,167 | 14.8% Moderate |
| #128 | Russell County | $119 | $6,167 | 14.0% Moderate |
| #129 | Scott County | $119 | $6,167 | 13.8% Moderate |
| #130 | Tazewell County | $119 | $6,167 | 13.3% Moderate |
| #131 | Wise County | $119 | $6,167 | 13.0% Moderate |
| #132 | Galax City | $119 | $6,167 | 13.8% Moderate |
| #133 | Norton City | $119 | $6,167 | 16.7% High |
| #134 | Bedford City | $101 | $5,252 | 11.6% Moderate |
Virginia Childcare Cost FAQ
Arlington County is the most expensive county for infant center daycare in Virginia at $559/wk ($29,086 per year). The Childcare Burden Index there is 21.2% of median household income ($137,387).
Bedford City has the lowest infant center daycare cost in Virginia at $101/wk ($5,252 per year). Across the 134 Virginia counties with DOL pricing data, the spread between most and least expensive is 454%.
The median weekly infant center care cost in Virginia is $191. The U.S. national median is $174, so Virginia runs 10% above the national median. Annualized, the typical Virginia family pays $9,943 per year for infant center daycare.
59 of 134 Virginia counties (44%) 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. 11 Virginia 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 Virginia 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.