Quality child care may be one of the biggest expenses that parents face. Between 65 and 70 percent of children under the age of 6 are in some form of nonparental care.

The cost of care depends on a number of factors:

• If you choose Center or Family Home Child Care
• The child's age (infant care vs. school-age care)
• The hours that care is needed (day shift vs. night or weekend shift)
• The location of child care (urban vs. suburban)

Contact your local Child Care Resource & Referral program to determine the specific child care rates in your area, or to get a general idea of the median rates in center or home care in a specific county, refer to our data page.