Recent research showed the top states where childcare is expensive, and to most people, it’s virtually unaffordable.
Childcare Cost Increases, Here’s The Top States
According to a new study from HelpAdvisor.com with information extracted from the U.S. Census Household Pulse Survey in May of 2023, the average American spends an astounding 27% of their household income on childcare with an average cost for childcare at $325.39 per week.
Finding affordable child care is at the forefront of the conversations, priorities, and even worries in many homes, including in New Jersey — the state with the second highest costs for child care, according to HelpAdvisor.com.
According to the demographics, American married couples aged 25 – 39 spent the most money at an average of $332.17 per week.
The study found that on average, this year, families in the United States pay $325.39 a week for child care.
Here are the top five most expensive areas for child care:
- Nevada ($493.46)
- New Jersey ($442.19)
- Washington, D.C. ($427.90)
- Hawaii ($413.19)
- Washington ($408.67)
HelpAdvisor.com used survey data released in May by the U.S. Census Bureau to determine the average weekly amount residents in each state spend on child care and found that Nevada was the most expensive state in the nation.
After analyzing the responses from over 364,000 families in Nevada, HelpAdvisor found that Nevada families spend an average of $493 on child care each week, which is the highest among all states. In total, that adds up to $25,636 per year.
New Jersey, Washington D.C., Hawaii, and Washington also have weekly average costs of over $400. Iowa was the only state in the U.S. that checked in with an average weekly expenditure below $200 ($182.42).
Nationwide, U.S. families spend an average of $325 per week on childcare costs, per the findings of the report. Families in Nevada making $25,000-$34,999 reported spending $950 weekly on childcare costs.
The complete results of the report are available here.
In July, KATV reported that Arkansas ranks as one of the least expensive states for childcare options.
According to Winne.com, the top five most expensive states for childcare are California, New York, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Connecticut, due to the high cost of living.
The five least expensive are Mississippi, Alabama, Arkansas, West Virginia, and Kentucky, with those areas having a lower cost of living and greater access to daycare.
“Arkansas ranks as one of the most affordable states for families, with cities like Little Rock, Fayetteville, and Jonesboro offering more budget-friendly childcare choices,” the website said. ” Daycare centers and in-home providers in these areas typically have lower costs compared to their counterparts in more expensive states.”
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