MEDIAN · INFANT · CENTER-BASED
How much does childcare cost in Columbia County, WA?
In Columbia County, WA, the median price of infant care at a child care center is $270 a week ($1,172 a month, $14,060 a year)†.
$270
per week · Columbia County, WA · 2022 (latest official data) · † statistically imputed by DOL
≈ $316 per week in 2025 dollars — estimate, adjusted for inflation by ChildcareCost; not an official figure · how we estimate this
† Value statistically imputed by DOL — see methodology
MEDIAN PRICE · BY AGE & SETTING · PER WEEK
| Age | Center-based | Family childcare |
|---|---|---|
| Infant | $270† | $198† |
| Toddler | $208† | $200† |
| Preschool | $208† | $200† |
| School-age‡ | $152† | $183† |
Median prices · 2022 (latest official data) · U.S. Department of Labor.
‡ School-age prices reflect a school-year, part-day arrangement, not full-day year-round care.
† Value statistically imputed by DOL — see methodology
AFFORDABILITY · INFANT · CENTER-BASED · VS 7%
Is childcare affordable in Columbia County?
Infant care at a child care center costs about $14,060 a year† — that is 14.7% of the county’s median family income of $95,426 (2022).
That is above the 7%-of-income childcare benchmark.
† Value statistically imputed by DOL — see methodology
ESTIMATE YOUR COST
What would childcare cost your family in Columbia County?
Uses Columbia County’s official 2022 median prices. Income is prefilled with the county median family income — change it to your own.
ESTIMATED COST IN COLUMBIA COUNTY
$14,060
per year · $1,172 per month (÷ 12)
- Share of income
- 14.7%
- Benchmark (7% of income)
- $6,680 /yr
That is above the 7%-of-income childcare benchmark.
INFANT · CENTER-BASED · WEEKLY
How Columbia County compares
- Columbia County$270 /wk†
- Washington median$357 /wk
- National median$244 /wk
Bars scaled to the highest figure shown. State and national figures are population-weighted medians of the county medians, across counties with data.
NEARBY COUNTIES · INFANT · CENTER-BASED · WEEKLY
Childcare prices near Columbia County
| County | Infant, center |
|---|---|
| Franklin CountyWA | $270 /wk |
| Garfield CountyWA | $237 /wk |
| Umatilla CountyOR | $197 /wk |
| Walla Walla CountyWA | $270 /wk |
| Wallowa CountyOR | $197 /wk |
| Whitman CountyWA | $237 /wk |
PRICE TREND · MEDIAN WEEKLY
How childcare prices in Columbia County changed
| Year | Median weekly price |
|---|---|
| 2008 | $199 |
| 2009 | $222 (statistically imputed by DOL) |
| 2010 | $245 |
| 2011 | $241 (statistically imputed by DOL) |
| 2012 | $237 |
| 2013 | $304 (statistically imputed by DOL) |
| 2014 | $370 |
| 2015 | $328 (statistically imputed by DOL) |
| 2016 | $287 (statistically imputed by DOL) |
| 2017 | $246 (statistically imputed by DOL) |
| 2018 | $204 |
| 2019 | $221 (statistically imputed by DOL) |
| 2020 | $237 (statistically imputed by DOL) |
| 2021 | $254 |
| 2022 | $270 (statistically imputed by DOL) |
† Value statistically imputed by DOL — see methodology
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
Frequently asked questions
- How much does infant childcare cost in Columbia County?
- The median price is $270 per week ($1,172 per month, $14,060 per year) at a child care center in Columbia County, based on 2022 (latest official data). This figure was statistically imputed by DOL.
- Is childcare affordable in Columbia County?
- Infant care at a child care center costs about $14,060 a year, or 14.7% of the county's median family income. That is above the 7%-of-income childcare benchmark.
- How much does family child care cost for an infant in Columbia County?
- The median price is $198 per week ($858 per month, $10,296 per year) at a family child care home in Columbia County, based on 2022 (latest official data). This figure was statistically imputed by DOL.
- How much does toddler daycare cost in Columbia County?
- The median price is $208 per week ($900 per month, $10,800 per year) at a child care center in Columbia County, based on 2022 (latest official data). This figure was statistically imputed by DOL.
- How much does preschool cost in Columbia County?
- The median price is $208 per week ($900 per month, $10,800 per year) at a child care center in Columbia County, based on 2022 (latest official data). This figure was statistically imputed by DOL.