by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors
January 30, 2026
According to the latest data from 2022 from the federal government’s Office of Child Care, just over $29 billion was spent on childcare subsidies
With recent fraud investigations ongoing in Minnesota and beyond centered on childcare businesses and other programs for low-income children, and following a new announcement of free daycare from New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, taxpayers may be eager to understand where their tax dollars go with regard to childcare.
According to the latest data from the federal government’s Office of Child Care, just over $29 billion was spent on childcare subsidies in fiscal year 2022, with funds disbursed from both federal and state sources over the last few years. This funding can be assigned to a multitude of categorical intents, including ensuring quality programs, staff training, administrative costs, and more.
With this in mind, SmartAsset ranked each U.S. state based on the number of federal dollars spent on subsidies to childcare centers per resident younger than five years old.
Key Findings
New Mexico has the highest federal childcare subsidies at $1,782 per child. A total of $187.1 million in federal subsidies was spent in 2022 on behalf of 104,994 children under age five residing in the state. West Virginia had the second-highest childcare subsidies per capita at $1,651 for each of 87,469 young children.
Federal childcare subsidies are lowest in these states. South Dakota reported the lowest subsidies per capita in 2022 at $482 spent for each of 57,246 children under five. Virginia had the second-lowest rate of subsidies at $546 per child, followed by Nevada at $564 and Minnesota at $629.
Massachusetts and Minnesota are among the most expensive states for childcare. Nationwide, the weekly median cost of childcare ranges from $108 to $462, depending on location and age of the child. Infant care is most expensive, with Massachusetts and Minnesota ranking first and second-highest in this metric at $462 and $390 per week, respectively. Toddler prices in these states come in at $409 and $348 per week, while preschoolers cost a median of $310 in Massachusetts and $309 in Minnesota.
Median childcare is less than $150 per week in these states. Regardless of child age, weekly median childcare costs clocked in lowest in Mississippi, where a week of infant care is $119, while a week of toddler or preschooler care is $108. Alabama is the second most affordable, with infant care at $136, toddler care at $134, and preschooler care at $126 weekly. In South Dakota, the median price is $150 for infants and toddlers, and $136 for preschoolers.
Federal Childcare Subsidies and Cost of Childcare by State
States are ranked based on the federal subsidy money spent on childcare purposes per resident under age five in fiscal year 2022.
New Mexico
Federal subsidies per resident child: $1,782.21
Resident children under 5: 104,994
Total federal subsidies: $187,121,763
Weekly median price, infant care: NA
Weekly median price, toddler care: NA
Weekly median price, preschool care: NA
West Virginia
Federal subsidies per resident child: $1,651.20
Resident children under 5: 87,469
Total federal subsidies: $144,429,085
Weekly median price, infant care: $167.49
Weekly median price, toddler care: $159.10
Weekly median price, preschool care: $164.85
Massachusetts
Federal subsidies per resident child: $1,424.21
Resident children under 5: 342,252
Total federal subsidies: $487,438,791
Weekly median price, infant care: $461.55
Weekly median price, toddler care: $408.50
Weekly median price, preschool care: $310.00
Delaware
Federal subsidies per resident child: $1,308.53
Resident children under 5: 54,058
Total federal subsidies: $70,736,572
Weekly median price, infant care: $280.28
Weekly median price, toddler care: $199.21
Weekly median price, preschool care: $210.26
Michigan
Federal subsidies per resident child: $1,300.33
Resident children under 5: 536,805
Total federal subsidies: $698,023,298
Weekly median price, infant care: $173.20
Weekly median price, toddler care: $173.20
Weekly median price, preschool care: $155.65
Idaho
Federal subsidies per resident child: $1,287.86
Resident children under 5: 111,816
Total federal subsidies: $144,003,566
Weekly median price, infant care: $166.41
Weekly median price, toddler care: $154.45
Weekly median price, preschool care: $140.26
New Jersey
Federal subsidies per resident child: $1,282.96
Resident children under 5: 513,333
Total federal subsidies: $658,584,991
Weekly median price, infant care: $313.73
Weekly median price, toddler care: $302.99
Weekly median price, preschool care: $302.99
Arkansas
Federal subsidies per resident child: $1,247.05
Resident children under 5: 177,765
Total federal subsidies: $221,682,300
Weekly median price, infant care: NA
Weekly median price, toddler care: NA
Weekly median price, preschool care: NA
Louisiana
Federal subsidies per resident child: $1,234.15
Resident children under 5: 270,937
Total federal subsidies: $334,377,637
Weekly median price, infant care: $153.33
Weekly median price, toddler care: $147.27
Weekly median price, preschool care: $140.89
Vermont
Federal subsidies per resident child: $1,187.22
Resident children under 5: 27,875
Total federal subsidies: $33,093,721
Weekly median price, infant care: NA
Weekly median price, toddler care: NA
Weekly median price, preschool care: NA
Oklahoma
Federal subsidies per resident child: $1,070.86
Resident children under 5: 240,173
Total federal subsidies: $257,190,682
Weekly median price, infant care: $215.46
Weekly median price, toddler care: $186.45
Weekly median price, preschool care: $186.45
Hawai‘i
Federal subsidies per resident child: $1,037.10
Resident children under 5: 78,927
Total federal subsidies: $81,855,243
Weekly median price, infant care: $365.77
Weekly median price, toddler care: $263.08
Weekly median price, preschool care: $263.08
Alabama
Federal subsidies per resident child: $1,021.00
Resident children under 5: 284,064
Total federal subsidies: $290,028,771
Weekly median price, infant care: $136.01
Weekly median price, toddler care: $134.35
Weekly median price, preschool care: $125.60
Georgia
Federal subsidies per resident child: $1,007.30
Resident children under 5: 621,126
Total federal subsidies: $625,660,993
Weekly median price, infant care: $205.00
Weekly median price, toddler care: $187.80
Weekly median price, preschool care: $179.00
Mississippi
Federal subsidies per resident child: $1,004.25
Resident children under 5: 169,303
Total federal subsidies: $170,022,469
Weekly median price, infant care: $118.68
Weekly median price, toddler care: $108.02
Weekly median price, preschool care: $108.02
Florida
Federal subsidies per resident child: $983.38
Resident children under 5: 1,101,350
Total federal subsidies: $1,083,048,050
Weekly median price, infant care: $225.00
Weekly median price, toddler care: $180.00
Weekly median price, preschool care: $165.00
Connecticut
Federal subsidies per resident child: $967.03
Resident children under 5: 178,453
Total federal subsidies: $172,569,544
Weekly median price, infant care: $350.00
Weekly median price, toddler care: $350.00
Weekly median price, preschool care: $285.00
Maine
Federal subsidies per resident child: $962.89
Resident children under 5: 61,018
Total federal subsidies: $58,753,751
Weekly median price, infant care: $230.00
Weekly median price, toddler care: $213.33
Weekly median price, preschool care: $194.00
Washington
Federal subsidies per resident child: $959.66
Resident children under 5: 421,722
Total federal subsidies: $404,708,430
Weekly median price, infant care: $357.31
Weekly median price, toddler care: $249.06
Weekly median price, preschool care: $249.06
Montana
Federal subsidies per resident child: $956.68
Resident children under 5: 57,024
Total federal subsidies: $54,553,556
Weekly median price, infant care: $220.81
Weekly median price, toddler care: $230.06
Weekly median price, preschool care: $197.31
Rhode Island
Federal subsidies per resident child: $949.44
Resident children under 5: 51,955
Total federal subsidies: $49,328,142
Weekly median price, infant care: $289.59
Weekly median price, toddler care: $279.20
Weekly median price, preschool care: $245.26
Iowa
Federal subsidies per resident child: $921.33
Resident children under 5: 180,010
Total federal subsidies: $165,849,363
Weekly median price, infant care: $165.98
Weekly median price, toddler care: $143.02
Weekly median price, preschool care: $143.02
Indiana
Federal subsidies per resident child: $918.42
Resident children under 5: 399,031
Total federal subsidies: $366,477,545
Weekly median price, infant care: NA
Weekly median price, toddler care: NA
Weekly median price, preschool care: NA
Alaska
Federal subsidies per resident child: $916.78
Resident children under 5: 46,497
Total federal subsidies: $42,627,462
Weekly median price, infant care: $361.90
Weekly median price, toddler care: $337.18
Weekly median price, preschool care: $289.75
North Dakota
Federal subsidies per resident child: $890.47
Resident children under 5: 47,844
Total federal subsidies: $42,603,558
Weekly median price, infant care: $213.81
Weekly median price, toddler care: $194.98
Weekly median price, preschool care: $181.00
Oregon
Federal subsidies per resident child: $875.07
Resident children under 5: 199,584
Total federal subsidies: $174,649,784
Weekly median price, infant care: $329.44
Weekly median price, toddler care: $302.47
Weekly median price, preschool care: $237.04
South Carolina
Federal subsidies per resident child: $848.53
Resident children under 5: 281,426
Total federal subsidies: $238,797,466
Weekly median price, infant care: $198.93
Weekly median price, toddler care: $185.03
Weekly median price, preschool care: $181.12
Tennessee
Federal subsidies per resident child: $835.30
Resident children under 5: 402,215
Total federal subsidies: $335,971,131
Weekly median price, infant care: $211.67
Weekly median price, toddler care: $146.35
Weekly median price, preschool care: $146.35
Missouri
Federal subsidies per resident child: $828.27
Resident children under 5: 349,648
Total federal subsidies: $289,603,974
Weekly median price, infant care: NA
Weekly median price, toddler care: NA
Weekly median price, preschool care: NA
Wisconsin
Federal subsidies per resident child: $824.92
Resident children under 5: 309,244
Total federal subsidies: $255,101,936
Weekly median price, infant care: $293.00
Weekly median price, toddler care: $258.75
Weekly median price, preschool care: $258.75
Arizona
Federal subsidies per resident child: $820.57
Resident children under 5: 393,413
Total federal subsidies: $322,824,548
Weekly median price, infant care: $270.00
Weekly median price, toddler care: $210.00
Weekly median price, preschool care: $210.00
Kentucky
Federal subsidies per resident child: $812.13
Resident children under 5: 260,433
Total federal subsidies: $211,504,429
Weekly median price, infant care: $151.30
Weekly median price, toddler care: $134.40
Weekly median price, preschool care: $134.40
Wyoming
Federal subsidies per resident child: $798.51
Resident children under 5: 30,444
Total federal subsidies: $24,309,836
Weekly median price, infant care: $161.17
Weekly median price, toddler care: $155.62
Weekly median price, preschool care: $155.62
Pennsylvania
Federal subsidies per resident child: $793.10
Resident children under 5: 668,734
Total federal subsidies: $530,372,101
Weekly median price, infant care: NA
Weekly median price, toddler care: NA
Weekly median price, preschool care: NA
North Carolina
Federal subsidies per resident child: $788.08
Resident children under 5: 584,492
Total federal subsidies: $460,627,170
Weekly median price, infant care: $202.52
Weekly median price, toddler care: $168.77
Weekly median price, preschool care: $133.82
Utah
Federal subsidies per resident child: $785.12
Resident children under 5: 228,464
Total federal subsidies: $179,371,727
Weekly median price, infant care: $226.27
Weekly median price, toddler care: $183.87
Weekly median price, preschool care: $168.06
Kansas
Federal subsidies per resident child: $782.32
Resident children under 5: 176,673
Total federal subsidies: $138,214,795
Weekly median price, infant care: $157.33
Weekly median price, toddler care: $148.00
Weekly median price, preschool care: $137.60
New York
Federal subsidies per resident child: $781.84
Resident children under 5: 1,055,455
Total federal subsidies: $825,191,780
Weekly median price, infant care: $300.00
Weekly median price, toddler care: $277.00
Weekly median price, preschool care: $259.00
Ohio
Federal subsidies per resident child: $767.78
Resident children under 5: 661,196
Total federal subsidies: $507,652,972
Weekly median price, infant care: $295.00
Weekly median price, toddler care: $265.00
Weekly median price, preschool care: $232.00
Texas
Federal subsidies per resident child: $748.03
Resident children under 5: 1,881,718
Total federal subsidies: $1,407,574,435
Weekly median price, infant care: $185.00
Weekly median price, toddler care: $172.00
Weekly median price, preschool care: $167.00
Colorado
Federal subsidies per resident child: $727.51
Resident children under 5: 305,063
Total federal subsidies: $221,937,618
Weekly median price, infant care: $377.40
Weekly median price, toddler care: $325.50
Weekly median price, preschool care: $276.35
California
Federal subsidies per resident child: $695.28
Resident children under 5: 2,118,386
Total federal subsidies: $1,472,877,994
Weekly median price, infant care: $379.21
Weekly median price, toddler care: $236.33
Weekly median price, preschool care: $224.99
Maryland
Federal subsidies per resident child: $693.79
Resident children under 5: 349,193
Total federal subsidies: $242,267,667
Weekly median price, infant care: $327.39
Weekly median price, toddler care: $230.78
Weekly median price, preschool care: $230.78
Illinois
Federal subsidies per resident child: $690.94
Resident children under 5: 674,211
Total federal subsidies: $465,839,492
Weekly median price, infant care: $278.33
Weekly median price, toddler care: $220.00
Weekly median price, preschool care: $189.17
Nebraska
Federal subsidies per resident child: $659.58
Resident children under 5: 121,107
Total federal subsidies: $79,879,421
Weekly median price, infant care: $243.75
Weekly median price, toddler care: $226.13
Weekly median price, preschool care: $205.00
New Hampshire
Federal subsidies per resident child: $635.52
Resident children under 5: 62,666
Total federal subsidies: $39,825,235
Weekly median price, infant care: $300.05
Weekly median price, toddler care: $284.61
Weekly median price, preschool care: $249.47
Minnesota
Federal subsidies per resident child: $629.42
Resident children under 5: 328,095
Total federal subsidies: $206,510,840
Weekly median price, infant care: $390.00
Weekly median price, toddler care: $347.56
Weekly median price, preschool care: $309.00
Nevada
Federal subsidies per resident child: $564.24
Resident children under 5: 172,575
Total federal subsidies: $97,374,354
Weekly median price, infant care: $275.63
Weekly median price, toddler care: $240.47
Weekly median price, preschool care: $229.27
Virginia
Federal subsidies per resident child: $546.17
Resident children under 5: 481,682
Total federal subsidies: $263,081,360
Weekly median price, infant care: $246.72
Weekly median price, toddler care: $194.52
Weekly median price, preschool care: $186.75
South Dakota
Federal subsidies per resident child: $481.98
Resident children under 5: 57,246
Total federal subsidies: $27,591,155
Weekly median price, infant care: $150.00
Weekly median price, toddler care: $150.00
Weekly median price, preschool care: $136.40
Data and Methodology
Federal subsidy expenditure data for the duration of fiscal year 2022 comes from the federal government’s Office of Child Care. Data includes total expenditures (which may include leftover monies from previous award years) across several intent categories for childcare, including staff training, program quality, and more. Median weekly childcare costs come from the Department of Labor’s National Database of Childcare Prices. Population data for children under age five in each state comes from the U.S. Census Bureau 1-Year American Community Survey for calendar year 2022.
This story was produced by SmartAsset and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
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