The cost of child care has increased more so than the median household income in Jefferson county over the last five years. Reductions in financial obligations on child care centers is needed to be able to offer high quality early childhood education at a price that average families can afford in our region. 

Contributing factors:

• Availability of trained staff
• State and federal funding

Limiting factors:

• Inability to offer competitive wages 

Science shows that positive early childhood experiences can have major short- and long-term effects on cognitive and social-emotional development. Money spent on high-quality early care and education (ECE) is an investment. One dollar spent on high-quality early care and education yields an average return of $4 over time. In circumstances where children are extremely vulnerable, the return can be as high as $13.

American families are often burdened by the high cost of childcare. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) states that “affordable” childcare costs no more than 7% of a family’s income. 

When the cost of child care increases at a higher rate than the median household income, it indicates further struggles for families to afford child care in our communities. 

Data reflects the change in the median annual charges for group child care centers children ages 0-4 compared to the change in median household income from 2019-2023. 

*Note - 2023 Median Household income reflects the US Census most recent publication which is 2022 and uses a 5-year estimate.