Child care prices in Massachusetts.
Weekly child care prices in Massachusetts, county by county, from the U.S. Department of Labor.
Source: National Database of Childcare Prices, U.S. Department of Labor, Women's Bureau. Data year 2022. Read November 4, 2026.
$462
Center, infant
State median per week, 2022
$310
Center, preschool
State median per week, 2022
$250
Home daycare, infant
State median per week, 2022
$235
Home daycare, preschool
State median per week, 2022
Infant care at centers is lowest in Berkshire County, at $330 a week in 2022. It is highest in Suffolk County, at $590 in 2022.
Infant care at home daycares is lowest in Berkshire County, at $225 a week in 2022. It is highest in Norfolk County, at $370 in 2022.
These prices are ranges to compare your own rates with. They are not advice on what to charge.
Centers: weekly prices by county, 2022
Each row is the county's newest year with a price. Every row is 2022.
| County | Median per week, 2022 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Infant | Toddler | Preschool | School age | |
| Barnstable | $352 | $320 | $270 | $210 |
| Berkshire | $330 | $301 | $230 | $203 |
| Bristol | $352 | $320 | $270 | $210 |
| Dukes | $352 | $320 | $270 | $210 |
| Essex | $462 | $409 | $310 | $215 |
| Franklin | $330 | $301 | $230 | $203 |
| Hampden | $330 | $301 | $230 | $203 |
| Hampshire | $330 | $301 | $230 | $203 |
| Middlesex | $462 | $409 | $310 | $215 |
| Nantucket | $352 | $320 | $270 | $210 |
| Norfolk | $555 | $520 | $420 | $175 |
| Plymouth | $352 | $320 | $270 | $210 |
| Suffolk | $590 | $493 | $350 | $224 |
| Worcester | $390 | $350 | $285 | $210 |
Home daycares: weekly prices by county, 2022
| County | Median per week, 2022 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Infant | Toddler | Preschool | School age | |
| Barnstable | $275 | $250 | $250 | $250 |
| Berkshire | $225 | $203 | $200 | $200 |
| Bristol | $275 | $250 | $250 | $250 |
| Dukes | $275 | $250 | $250 | $250 |
| Essex | $250 | $230 | $200 | $214 |
| Franklin | $225 | $203 | $200 | $200 |
| Hampden | $225 | $203 | $200 | $200 |
| Hampshire | $225 | $203 | $200 | $200 |
| Middlesex | $250 | $230 | $200 | $214 |
| Nantucket | $275 | $250 | $250 | $250 |
| Norfolk | $370 | $340 | $320 | $300 |
| Plymouth | $275 | $250 | $250 | $250 |
| Suffolk | $320 | $280 | $250 | $250 |
| Worcester | $250 | $248 | $235 | $225 |
What the age groups mean
The database groups children the same way in every state.
- Infantbirth to 23 months
- Toddler24 to 35 months
- Preschool36 to 54 months
- School ageschool-age children
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- Daycare startup costs in Massachusetts
Revenue, staff cost and rent from your own numbers.
- Childcare in Massachusetts, by the numbers
Programs, spots and new centers in every county.
- Massachusetts licensing guide
Ratios, trainings and the checklist the state asks for.
- Child care prices in every state
State medians, newest year.
Questions, answered
How much does child care cost in Massachusetts?
The Massachusetts median at a center was $462 a week for an infant in 2022. For a preschooler it was $310.
How much does a home daycare cost in Massachusetts?
The Massachusetts median at a home daycare was $250 a week for an infant in 2022. For a preschooler it was $235.
Which Massachusetts county has the highest center price for infants?
Suffolk County, at $590 a week in 2022. The lowest is Berkshire County, at $330 in 2022.
Are these prices adjusted for inflation?
Prices are in the dollars of their own year. We did not adjust them for inflation.
Where do these Massachusetts prices come from?
From the National Database of Childcare Prices. The U.S. Department of Labor's Women's Bureau publishes it.
About these numbers
Each price is a median weekly price for full-time care, as the Women's Bureau published it.
A county's row is its newest year with a price. Each row says its year.
Prices are in the dollars of their own year. We did not adjust them for inflation.
The Women's Bureau fills some gaps with its own estimates. We show each price rounded to the dollar.
None means the database has no price for that age group.
These prices are ranges to compare your own rates with. They are not advice on what to charge.
This page is a summary of public data. It is not financial or legal advice.
How the prices were gathered is in the National Database of Childcare Prices Technical Report 2024.
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