Child care prices in North Carolina.
Weekly child care prices in North Carolina, 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 2015 to 2022. Read November 4, 2026.
$203
Center, infant
State median per week, 2022
$134
Center, preschool
State median per week, 2022
$174
Home daycare, infant
State median per week, 2022
$146
Home daycare, preschool
State median per week, 2022
Infant care at centers is lowest in Alleghany County, at $109 a week in 2022. It is highest in Orange County, at $355 in 2022.
Infant care at home daycares is lowest in Mitchell County, at $94 a week in 2022. It is highest in Orange County, at $271 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, 2015 to 2022
Each row is the county's newest year with a price. Years differ, so each shows under its county.
| County and year | Median per week, 2015 to 2022 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Infant | Toddler | Preschool | School age | |
| Alamance2022 | $145 | $143 | $113 | $66 |
| Alexander2022 | $159 | $131 | $118 | $68 |
| Alleghany2022 | $109 | $109 | $109 | $59 |
| Anson2022 | $159 | $131 | $125 | $68 |
| Ashe2022 | $169 | $125 | $117 | $64 |
| Avery2022 | $238 | $151 | $136 | $74 |
| Beaufort2022 | $185 | $160 | $135 | $78 |
| Bertie2022 | $164 | $138 | $152 | $82 |
| Bladen2022 | $109 | $109 | $109 | $59 |
| Brunswick2022 | $184 | $158 | $146 | $77 |
| Buncombe2022 | $191 | $165 | $175 | $135 |
| Burke2022 | $181 | $127 | $112 | $64 |
| Cabarrus2022 | $258 | $204 | $172 | $99 |
| Caldwell2022 | $164 | $137 | $115 | $63 |
| Camden2022 | $181 | $176 | $84 | $48 |
| Carteret2022 | $199 | $129 | $129 | $130 |
| Caswell2022 | $203 | $141 | $116 | $63 |
| Catawba2022 | $183 | $142 | $109 | $110 |
| Chatham2022 | $228 | $182 | $165 | $87 |
| Cherokee2022 | $209 | $137 | $93 | $50 |
| Chowan2022 | $131 | $125 | $109 | $59 |
| Clay2022 | $209 | $137 | $93 | $50 |
| Cleveland2022 | $159 | $136 | $131 | $71 |
| Columbus2022 | $139 | $135 | $116 | $89 |
| Craven2022 | $200 | $167 | $147 | $80 |
| Cumberland2022 | $183 | $159 | $132 | $76 |
| Currituck2022 | $172 | $149 | $129 | $74 |
| Dare2022 | $230 | $204 | $177 | $102 |
| Davidson2022 | $181 | $159 | $129 | $74 |
| Davie2022 | $208 | $160 | $162 | $163 |
| Duplin2022 | $131 | $131 | $126 | $68 |
| Durham2022 | $317 | $239 | $188 | $102 |
| Edgecombe2022 | $190 | $147 | $124 | $67 |
| Forsyth2022 | $203 | $169 | $150 | $81 |
| Franklin2022 | $200 | $149 | $134 | $135 |
| Gaston2022 | $148 | $133 | $108 | $63 |
| Gates2022 | $209 | $137 | $93 | $50 |
| Graham2015 | $136 | $126 | $119 | $92 |
| Granville2022 | $200 | $159 | $116 | $117 |
| Greene2022 | $129 | $115 | $115 | $89 |
| Guilford2022 | $227 | $175 | $132 | $133 |
| Halifax2022 | $174 | $129 | $111 | $60 |
| Harnett2022 | $197 | $139 | $114 | $115 |
| Haywood2022 | $203 | $135 | $109 | $110 |
| Henderson2022 | $195 | $149 | $129 | $130 |
| Hertford2022 | $155 | $133 | $132 | $71 |
| Hoke2022 | $150 | $135 | $125 | $96 |
| Hyde2022 | $170 | $153 | $110 | $85 |
| Iredell2022 | $223 | $175 | $149 | $150 |
| Jackson2022 | $181 | $176 | $84 | $48 |
| Johnston2022 | $216 | $188 | $149 | $86 |
| Jones2022 | $131 | $131 | $126 | $68 |
| Lee2022 | $145 | $118 | $106 | $62 |
| Lenoir2022 | $170 | $158 | $131 | $71 |
| Lincoln2022 | $197 | $171 | $140 | $80 |
| Macon2022 | $178 | $136 | $174 | $59 |
| Madison2022 | $149 | $134 | $109 | $70 |
| Martin2022 | $182 | $116 | $129 | $74 |
| McDowell2022 | $164 | $141 | $134 | $99 |
| Mecklenburg2022 | $284 | $251 | $171 | $90 |
| Mitchell2022 | $149 | $138 | $102 | $59 |
| Montgomery2022 | $181 | $131 | $109 | $59 |
| Moore2022 | $189 | $154 | $129 | $130 |
| Nash2022 | $157 | $148 | $134 | $77 |
| New Hanover2022 | $223 | $173 | $134 | $135 |
| Northampton2022 | $195 | $179 | $123 | $67 |
| Onslow2022 | $203 | $152 | $129 | $130 |
| Orange2022 | $355 | $292 | $199 | $105 |
| Pamlico2022 | $183 | $141 | $86 | $47 |
| Pasquotank2022 | $159 | $137 | $115 | $66 |
| Pender2022 | $199 | $180 | $138 | $73 |
| Perquimans2022 | $197 | $180 | $120 | $65 |
| Person2022 | $170 | $153 | $110 | $85 |
| Pitt2022 | $208 | $182 | $156 | $89 |
| Polk2022 | $181 | $173 | $85 | $46 |
| Randolph2022 | $191 | $142 | $119 | $120 |
| Richmond2022 | $137 | $131 | $109 | $59 |
| Robeson2022 | $148 | $130 | $111 | $60 |
| Rockingham2022 | $137 | $125 | $93 | $50 |
| Rowan2022 | $199 | $139 | $119 | $120 |
| Rutherford2022 | $161 | $142 | $113 | $65 |
| Sampson2022 | $137 | $125 | $109 | $59 |
| Scotland2022 | $142 | $120 | $114 | $62 |
| Stanly2022 | $186 | $163 | $147 | $80 |
| Stokes2022 | $170 | $131 | $125 | $68 |
| Surry2022 | $176 | $142 | $117 | $63 |
| Swain2022 | $154 | $109 | $108 | $83 |
| Transylvania2022 | $188 | $152 | $125 | $68 |
| Tyrrell2022 | $109 | $109 | $109 | $59 |
| Union2022 | $248 | $205 | $116 | $117 |
| Vance2022 | $161 | $139 | $129 | $74 |
| Wake2022 | $307 | $251 | $189 | $99 |
| Warren2022 | $137 | $125 | $125 | $68 |
| Washington2022 | $154 | $129 | $109 | $59 |
| Watauga2022 | $180 | $150 | $162 | $125 |
| Wayne2022 | $153 | $138 | $123 | $71 |
| Wilkes2022 | $183 | $159 | $109 | $59 |
| Wilson2022 | $175 | $152 | $136 | $74 |
| Yadkin2022 | $137 | $108 | $91 | $52 |
| Yancey2022 | $195 | $179 | $123 | $67 |
Home daycares: weekly prices by county, 2015 to 2022
| County and year | Median per week, 2015 to 2022 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Infant | Toddler | Preschool | School age | |
| Alamance2022 | $150 | $134 | $140 | $89 |
| Alexander2022 | $108 | $97 | $98 | $68 |
| Alleghany2022 | $150 | $115 | $109 | $66 |
| Anson2022 | $145 | $142 | $112 | $92 |
| Ashe2022 | $114 | $191 | $274 | $69 |
| Avery2022 | $177 | $148 | $144 | $84 |
| Beaufort2022 | $167 | $135 | $138 | $83 |
| Bertie2022 | $144 | $103 | $109 | $63 |
| Bladen2022 | $150 | $115 | $109 | $66 |
| Brunswick2022 | $135 | $136 | $152 | $93 |
| Buncombe2022 | $177 | $160 | $138 | $185 |
| Burke2022 | $156 | $119 | $120 | $117 |
| Cabarrus2022 | $174 | $146 | $136 | $117 |
| Caldwell2022 | $150 | $130 | $137 | $64 |
| Camden2022 | $166 | $146 | $130 | $117 |
| Carteret2022 | $172 | $131 | $131 | $202 |
| Caswell2022 | None | None | None | None |
| Catawba2022 | $172 | $136 | $133 | $210 |
| Chatham2022 | $163 | $150 | $140 | $82 |
| Cherokee2022 | $135 | $114 | $114 | $62 |
| Chowan2022 | $126 | $121 | $121 | $86 |
| Clay2022 | $135 | $114 | $114 | $62 |
| Cleveland2022 | $128 | $137 | $109 | $62 |
| Columbus2022 | $112 | $95 | $91 | $134 |
| Craven2022 | $177 | $164 | $160 | $93 |
| Cumberland2022 | $162 | $150 | $136 | $93 |
| Currituck2022 | $168 | $121 | $109 | $101 |
| Dare2022 | $192 | $162 | $163 | $117 |
| Davidson2022 | $183 | $140 | $147 | $97 |
| Davie2022 | $178 | $141 | $138 | $197 |
| Duplin2022 | $114 | $123 | $118 | $69 |
| Durham2022 | $228 | $202 | $191 | $103 |
| Edgecombe2022 | $143 | $137 | $137 | $67 |
| Forsyth2022 | $188 | $164 | $148 | $87 |
| Franklin2022 | $160 | $145 | $141 | $153 |
| Gaston2022 | $145 | $140 | $135 | $83 |
| Gates2022 | $135 | $114 | $114 | $62 |
| Graham2015 | $101 | $94 | $90 | $78 |
| Granville2022 | $149 | $136 | $131 | $202 |
| Greene2022 | $116 | $110 | $110 | $157 |
| Guilford2022 | $172 | $146 | $147 | $194 |
| Halifax2022 | $143 | $126 | $118 | $69 |
| Harnett2022 | $164 | $136 | $136 | $154 |
| Haywood2022 | $179 | $128 | $103 | $190 |
| Henderson2022 | $178 | $157 | $141 | $210 |
| Hertford2022 | $122 | $109 | $106 | $61 |
| Hoke2022 | $140 | $125 | $110 | $157 |
| Hyde2022 | $140 | $140 | $125 | $200 |
| Iredell2022 | $184 | $141 | $146 | $178 |
| Jackson2022 | $166 | $146 | $130 | $117 |
| Johnston2022 | $153 | $150 | $136 | $97 |
| Jones2022 | $114 | $123 | $118 | $69 |
| Lee2022 | $136 | $118 | $111 | $86 |
| Lenoir2022 | $148 | $130 | $120 | $66 |
| Lincoln2022 | $192 | $140 | $149 | $105 |
| Macon2022 | $114 | $109 | $109 | $80 |
| Madison2022 | $150 | $140 | $137 | $78 |
| Martin2022 | $143 | $115 | $120 | $86 |
| McDowell2022 | $150 | $135 | $130 | $72 |
| Mecklenburg2022 | $189 | $180 | $180 | $100 |
| Mitchell2022 | $94 | $83 | $82 | $58 |
| Montgomery2022 | $114 | $109 | $108 | $69 |
| Moore2022 | $184 | $141 | $140 | $163 |
| Nash2022 | $192 | $122 | $130 | $85 |
| New Hanover2022 | $184 | $157 | $157 | $194 |
| Northampton2022 | $176 | $109 | $119 | $83 |
| Onslow2022 | $161 | $146 | $146 | $202 |
| Orange2022 | $271 | $226 | $223 | $112 |
| Pamlico2022 | $135 | $114 | $114 | $62 |
| Pasquotank2022 | $157 | $122 | $124 | $71 |
| Pender2022 | $157 | $125 | $118 | $82 |
| Perquimans2022 | $124 | $110 | $105 | $61 |
| Person2022 | $140 | $140 | $125 | $200 |
| Pitt2022 | $189 | $149 | $147 | $82 |
| Polk2022 | $158 | $148 | $131 | $103 |
| Randolph2022 | $149 | $122 | $113 | $162 |
| Richmond2022 | $183 | $126 | $114 | $83 |
| Robeson2022 | $171 | $109 | $104 | $59 |
| Rockingham2022 | $131 | $115 | $121 | $72 |
| Rowan2022 | $155 | $138 | $131 | $162 |
| Rutherford2022 | $142 | $108 | $113 | $89 |
| Sampson2022 | $143 | $147 | $118 | $86 |
| Scotland2022 | $155 | $137 | $133 | $61 |
| Stanly2022 | $162 | $142 | $142 | $68 |
| Stokes2022 | $143 | $137 | $109 | $72 |
| Surry2022 | $114 | $109 | $109 | $69 |
| Swain2022 | $117 | $126 | $126 | $167 |
| Transylvania2022 | $171 | $137 | $120 | $76 |
| Tyrrell2022 | $150 | $115 | $109 | $66 |
| Union2022 | $201 | $167 | $178 | $202 |
| Vance2022 | $166 | $134 | $125 | $78 |
| Wake2022 | $217 | $201 | $202 | $112 |
| Warren2022 | $138 | $104 | $99 | $64 |
| Washington2022 | $137 | $131 | $131 | $84 |
| Watauga2022 | $158 | $124 | $155 | $143 |
| Wayne2022 | $156 | $135 | $125 | $78 |
| Wilkes2022 | $126 | $131 | $109 | $62 |
| Wilson2022 | $112 | $116 | $142 | $90 |
| Yadkin2022 | $120 | $111 | $109 | $78 |
| Yancey2022 | $176 | $109 | $119 | $83 |
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
Run a program in North Carolina? Bloomily handles enrollment, billing, check-in and family messages. See how it works
Plan your program
- Daycare startup costs in North Carolina
Revenue, staff cost and rent from your own numbers.
- North Carolina 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 North Carolina?
The North Carolina median at a center was $203 a week for an infant in 2022. For a preschooler it was $134.
How much does a home daycare cost in North Carolina?
The North Carolina median at a home daycare was $174 a week for an infant in 2022. For a preschooler it was $146.
Which North Carolina county has the highest center price for infants?
Orange County, at $355 a week in 2022. The lowest is Alleghany County, at $109 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 North Carolina 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.
Questions about childcare in North Carolina?
Tell us what you run or plan to open. A person on our team answers.