Washington is the fifth-most expensive state for childcare for married couples, according to a new WalletHub study comparing the cost of both family-based and center-based care across all 50 U.S. states, adjusting for median household income.
This is part of a broader affordability challenge facing families across the country. Paying for childcare is often unavoidable, considering that both parents work in 66.3% of families with children, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and single parents typically don't have the option of relying on a partner for daytime care.
“It costs a lot of money to take care of a child's needs, and many parents are left with the dilemma of whether to forgo one salary to do their own childcare for the first few years or to shell out a significant chunk of their income for childcare services,” said WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo. “Married parents who both work can expect to spend as much as 14% of what they earn on childcare, while single parents' costs can amount to an astounding 59%.”
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In-Depth Look at Washington
Washington is the fifth-most expensive state for childcare for married couples, with costs ranging from 10.9% to 12.8% of the median income. Couples get to choose between:
- The fourth-most expensive family childcare
- The eighth-most expensive center-based childcare
Single parents in Washington have the fourth-highest burden in the country, spending 34.9% to 41.1% of the median income on childcare, depending on the type.
How Income Affects Childcare Costs in Washington
Washington has the eighth-highest median income for married couples, at $149,728, and the 11th-highest for single parents, at $46,583. Despite being among the higher-earning states, Washington's childcare costs are high enough to consume a significant share of income for families at all levels.
States With the Highest & Lowest Cost of Childcare for Married Couple
Overall Rank* | State | Total Score | Cost of Family-Based Childcare (Married Couple) | Cost of Center-Based Childcare (Married Couple) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | New York | 91.02 | 11.03% | 12.84% |
2 | New Mexico | 82.95 | 11.61% | 11.14% |
3 | Washington | 81.66 | 10.01% | 12.61% |
4 | Oregon | 80.37 | 9.61% | 12.85% |
5 | Vermont | 79.35 | 9.17% | 13.17% |
6 | California | 78.57 | 9.89% | 12.32% |
7 | Rhode Island | 76.23 | 10.42% | 11.45% |
8 | Hawaii | 73.74 | 8.15% | 13.46% |
9 | Colorado | 66.81 | 8.87% | 11.77% |
10 | Massachusetts | 66.33 | 8.22% | 12.38% |
Note: All cost stats are a percentage of the median income.
States With the Highest & Lowest Cost of Childcare for Single-Parent
Overall Rank* | State | Total Score | Cost of Family-Based Childcare (Single-Parent) | Cost of Center-Based Childcare (Single-Parent) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | District of Columbia | 100 | 51.16% | 58.72% |
2 | Massachusetts | 64.62 | 35.11% | 50.01% |
3 | New York | 63.48 | 38.42% | 45.51% |
4 | Washington | 52.4 | 34.89% | 41.14% |
5 | California | 50.52 | 32.72% | 42.13% |
6 | Oregon | 49.7 | 34.36% | 39.71% |
7 | Illinois | 49.67 | 28.77% | 45.85% |
8 | Nebraska | 48.27 | 32.23% | 40.99% |
9 | Wisconsin | 45.04 | 30.31% | 40.71% |
10 | Rhode Island | 44.15 | 31.78% | 38.41% |
Note: All cost stats are a percentage of the median income.
The methodology can be found on the full version of the article on WalletHub.
