POLICY & PROGRAMS
The 7% Childcare Benchmark, Explained (and Why It Ended)
The federal 7% childcare benchmark capped only CCDF subsidy co-payments, never general affordability, and it was rescinded on July 13, 2026.
By Sharon Ben-Moshe ·
CHILDCARECOST · NOTES
Blog
How to read the childcare price data, what the benchmarks mean, and notes from building a public reference for families.
BUDGETING · POLICY & PROGRAMS
Childcare Tax Credit & Dependent Care FSA: What You Can Save
The 2026 tax law raises the Child and Dependent Care Credit to 50% and the Dependent Care FSA limit to $7,500 — here’s how the two interact.
By Sharon Ben-Moshe ·
COST DATA
The Most (and Least) Expensive Counties for Infant Care
See the 10 most and least expensive U.S. counties for infant care in 2022 — from $606.61/week in San Francisco to $90.47/week in rural Kentucky.
By Sharon Ben-Moshe ·
BUDGETING
How to Budget for Daycare: A Worked Example With Real Data
How to budget for daycare: look up your county's real 2022 NDCP price, convert it to your pay period, and compare it against your household income.
By Sharon Ben-Moshe ·
COST DATA
Where Our Numbers Come From: The DOL Childcare Database
See exactly where ChildcareCost's numbers come from: the DOL's official 2022 childcare price database, and the rules we follow for every gap.
By Sharon Ben-Moshe ·
COST DATA
How Much Does Daycare Cost? Official U.S. Prices by Age
See the real U.S. median cost of daycare by age and care type, from official 2022 DOL data — plus how much your state and county differ.
By Sharon Ben-Moshe ·