What care costs for a preschooler and for two children, county by county, and how it compares with what families here earn.
Full-time care for a 4-year-old costs about $7,665 a year in the typical county in Texas, or $639 a month, 4.7% less than the $8,040 for the typical county nationally. Care for a 4-year-old and an 8-year-old comes to about $14,965 a year. The cost of care for one preschooler is 9.7% of median family income in the typical county.
The federal Department of Health and Human Services counts child care as affordable when it takes no more than 7% of family income. For one 4-year-old, 10 of Texas's 252 counties meet that at the median family income; nationally, 259 of 3,131 counties do. In the budget EPI draws up for two parents and two children, child care is 16.1% of the total in the typical county. In 1 county, care for one preschooler costs more than the family's housing.
Build a budget with your own child care cost, or see the rest of what Texas costs.
Care for a 4-year-old costs most in Travis County ($12,714), Bastrop County ($11,133) and Caldwell County ($11,133), and least in Sutton County ($5,840), Schleicher County ($5,840) and Reagan County ($5,840). Metro counties are priced at child care centers, other counties at home-based family child care.
| Anderson County | $6,570 | $548 | $12,897 | 9.2% |
| Andrews County | $7,848 | $654 | $15,269 | 8.7% |
| Angelina County | $6,692 | $558 | $13,079 | 9.6% |
| Aransas County | $6,509 | $542 | $12,775 | 8.9% |
| Archer County | $7,239 | $603 | $14,053 | 7.8% |
| Armstrong County | $8,273 | $689 | $16,121 | 9.9% |
| Atascosa County | $9,490 | $791 | $18,554 | 11.8% |
| Austin County | $10,159 | $847 | $19,649 | 10.7% |
| Bailey County | $7,665 | $639 | $14,965 | 9.2% |
| Bandera County | $9,490 | $791 | $18,554 | 10.6% |
| Bastrop County | $11,133 | $928 | $21,657 | 11.7% |
| Baylor County | $6,692 | $558 | $13,079 | 11.0% |
| Bee County | $6,509 | $542 | $12,775 | 8.7% |
| Bell County | $7,483 | $624 | $14,600 | 9.4% |
| Bexar County | $9,490 | $791 | $18,554 | 11.2% |
| Blanco County | $10,342 | $862 | $20,075 | 10.6% |
| Borden County | $7,848 | $654 | $15,269 | 12.3% |
| Bosque County | $7,057 | $588 | $13,748 | 8.6% |
| Bowie County | $6,813 | $568 | $13,323 | 9.3% |
| Brazoria County | $10,159 | $847 | $19,649 | 9.3% |
| Brazos County | $8,578 | $715 | $16,729 | 9.9% |
| Brewster County | $6,448 | $537 | $12,593 | 9.3% |
| Briscoe County | $7,726 | $644 | $15,148 | 12.2% |
| Brooks County | $7,969 | $664 | $15,573 | 19.7% |
| Brown County | $6,509 | $542 | $12,714 | 9.2% |
| Burleson County | $8,578 | $715 | $16,729 | 9.8% |
| Burnet County | $10,342 | $862 | $20,075 | 11.1% |
| Caldwell County | $11,133 | $928 | $21,657 | 13.8% |
| Calhoun County | $6,509 | $542 | $12,775 | 7.7% |
| Callahan County | $6,935 | $578 | $13,505 | 9.1% |
| Cameron County | $8,699 | $725 | $16,973 | 14.8% |
| Camp County | $6,570 | $548 | $12,897 | 10.2% |
| Carson County | $8,273 | $689 | $16,121 | 7.3% |
| Cass County | $6,388 | $532 | $12,532 | 9.7% |
| Castro County | $7,726 | $644 | $15,148 | 11.9% |
| Chambers County | $10,159 | $847 | $19,649 | 8.4% |
| Cherokee County | $6,570 | $548 | $12,897 | 9.9% |
| Childress County | $7,726 | $644 | $15,148 | 9.8% |
| Clay County | $7,239 | $603 | $14,053 | 7.8% |
| Cochran County | $7,665 | $639 | $14,965 | 14.2% |
| Coke County | $5,840 | $487 | $11,437 | 8.2% |
| Coleman County | $6,509 | $542 | $12,714 | 10.1% |
| Collin County | $10,342 | $862 | $20,197 | 7.3% |
| Collingsworth County | $7,726 | $644 | $15,148 | 11.9% |
| Colorado County | $9,308 | $776 | $18,068 | 10.3% |
| Comal County | $9,490 | $791 | $18,554 | 8.0% |
| Comanche County | $6,509 | $542 | $12,714 | 7.9% |
| Concho County | $5,840 | $487 | $11,437 | 8.1% |
| Cooke County | $7,178 | $598 | $14,053 | 7.9% |
| Coryell County | $7,483 | $624 | $14,600 | 9.5% |
| Cottle County | $6,692 | $558 | $13,079 | 8.6% |
| Crane County | $7,848 | $654 | $15,269 | 10.4% |
| Crockett County | $5,840 | $487 | $11,437 | 5.4% |
| Crosby County | $8,152 | $679 | $15,938 | 12.0% |
| Culberson County | $6,448 | $537 | $12,593 | 10.6% |
| Dallam County | $7,726 | $644 | $15,148 | 9.4% |
| Dallas County | $10,646 | $887 | $20,623 | 12.5% |
| Dawson County | $7,848 | $654 | $15,269 | 11.5% |
| Deaf Smith County | $7,726 | $644 | $15,148 | 13.7% |
| Delta County | $6,388 | $532 | $12,532 | 7.5% |
| Denton County | $10,342 | $862 | $20,014 | 7.8% |
| DeWitt County | $6,509 | $542 | $12,775 | 9.1% |
| Dickens County | $7,665 | $639 | $14,965 | 11.2% |
| Dimmit County | $7,057 | $588 | $13,870 | 20.0% |
| Donley County | $7,726 | $644 | $15,148 | 9.9% |
| Duval County | $7,969 | $664 | $15,573 | 12.6% |
| Eastland County | $6,509 | $542 | $12,714 | 9.5% |
| Ector County | $8,517 | $710 | $16,547 | 10.2% |
| Edwards County | $7,057 | $588 | $13,870 | 14.3% |
| El Paso County | $6,874 | $573 | $13,444 | 10.5% |
| Ellis County | $10,342 | $862 | $20,014 | 9.7% |
| Erath County | $9,490 | $791 | $18,372 | 11.1% |
| Falls County | $7,543 | $629 | $14,661 | 10.6% |
| Fannin County | $7,178 | $598 | $14,053 | 8.6% |
| Fayette County | $10,342 | $862 | $20,075 | 10.9% |
| Fisher County | $6,509 | $542 | $12,714 | 8.6% |
| Floyd County | $7,665 | $639 | $14,965 | 12.4% |
| Foard County | $6,692 | $558 | $13,079 | 13.3% |
| Fort Bend County | $10,159 | $847 | $19,649 | 8.0% |
| Franklin County | $6,388 | $532 | $12,532 | 8.4% |
| Freestone County | $7,057 | $588 | $13,748 | 8.7% |
| Frio County | $8,882 | $740 | $17,338 | 13.8% |
| Gaines County | $7,848 | $654 | $15,269 | 8.5% |
| Galveston County | $10,159 | $847 | $19,649 | 9.5% |
| Garza County | $7,665 | $639 | $14,965 | 10.8% |
| Gillespie County | $8,882 | $740 | $17,338 | 9.5% |
| Glasscock County | $7,848 | $654 | $15,269 | 5.6% |
| Goliad County | $6,996 | $583 | $13,627 | 7.9% |
| Gonzales County | $6,509 | $542 | $12,775 | 9.1% |
| Gray County | $7,726 | $644 | $15,148 | 11.5% |
| Grayson County | $7,726 | $644 | $15,026 | 9.0% |
| Gregg County | $6,996 | $583 | $13,688 | 9.0% |
| Grimes County | $8,030 | $669 | $15,695 | 9.8% |
| Guadalupe County | $9,490 | $791 | $18,554 | 8.9% |
| Hale County | $7,665 | $639 | $14,965 | 12.3% |
| Hall County | $7,726 | $644 | $15,148 | 14.3% |
| Hamilton County | $6,996 | $583 | $13,688 | 9.0% |
| Hansford County | $7,726 | $644 | $15,148 | 8.2% |
| Hardeman County | $6,692 | $558 | $13,079 | 9.6% |
| Hardin County | $7,604 | $634 | $14,904 | 8.1% |
| Harris County | $10,159 | $847 | $19,649 | 11.8% |
| Harrison County | $6,996 | $583 | $13,688 | 8.7% |
| Hartley County | $7,726 | $644 | $15,148 | 8.5% |
| Haskell County | $6,509 | $542 | $12,714 | 9.1% |
| Hays County | $11,133 | $928 | $21,657 | 10.5% |
| Hemphill County | $7,726 | $644 | $15,148 | 6.8% |
| Henderson County | $6,570 | $548 | $12,897 | 8.3% |
| Hidalgo County | $8,091 | $674 | $15,756 | 14.0% |
| Hill County | $7,057 | $588 | $13,748 | 9.0% |
| Hockley County | $7,665 | $639 | $14,965 | 11.4% |
| Hood County | $9,490 | $791 | $18,372 | 9.3% |
| Hopkins County | $6,388 | $532 | $12,532 | 8.1% |
| Houston County | $6,692 | $558 | $13,079 | 9.1% |
| Howard County | $7,848 | $654 | $15,269 | 9.1% |
| Hudspeth County | $6,874 | $573 | $13,444 | 12.3% |
| Hunt County | $10,342 | $862 | $20,014 | 13.0% |
| Hutchinson County | $7,726 | $644 | $15,148 | 8.6% |
| Irion County | $6,266 | $522 | $12,228 | 8.0% |
| Jack County | $6,692 | $558 | $13,079 | 8.9% |
| Jackson County | $6,509 | $542 | $12,775 | 8.7% |
| Jasper County | $6,692 | $558 | $13,079 | 10.4% |
| Jeff Davis County | $6,448 | $537 | $12,593 | 8.6% |
| Jefferson County | $7,604 | $634 | $14,904 | 10.1% |
| Jim Hogg County | $6,692 | $558 | $13,079 | 14.2% |
| Jim Wells County | $7,969 | $664 | $15,573 | 13.1% |
| Johnson County | $10,342 | $862 | $20,014 | 11.3% |
| Jones County | $6,935 | $578 | $13,505 | 9.8% |
| Karnes County | $8,882 | $740 | $17,338 | 12.4% |
| Kaufman County | $10,342 | $862 | $20,014 | 10.5% |
| Kendall County | $9,490 | $791 | $18,554 | 7.1% |
| Kenedy County | $7,969 | $664 | $15,573 | — |
| Kent County | $6,509 | $542 | $12,714 | 6.8% |
| Kerr County | $8,882 | $740 | $17,338 | 10.5% |
| Kimble County | $5,840 | $487 | $11,437 | 6.3% |
| King County | $7,665 | $639 | $14,965 | 12.9% |
| Kinney County | $7,057 | $588 | $13,870 | 9.8% |
| Kleberg County | $7,969 | $664 | $15,573 | 11.4% |
| Knox County | $6,509 | $542 | $12,714 | 10.4% |
| La Salle County | $7,057 | $588 | $13,870 | 12.3% |
| Lamar County | $6,388 | $532 | $12,532 | 8.5% |
| Lamb County | $7,665 | $639 | $14,965 | 10.7% |
| Lampasas County | $7,483 | $624 | $14,600 | 7.9% |
| Lavaca County | $6,509 | $542 | $12,775 | 7.5% |
| Lee County | $10,342 | $862 | $20,075 | 13.7% |
| Leon County | $8,030 | $669 | $15,695 | 10.7% |
| Liberty County | $10,159 | $847 | $19,649 | 13.6% |
| Limestone County | $7,057 | $588 | $13,748 | 10.6% |
| Lipscomb County | $7,726 | $644 | $15,148 | 9.1% |
| Live Oak County | $7,969 | $664 | $15,573 | 11.2% |
| Llano County | $10,342 | $862 | $20,075 | 12.7% |
| Loving County | $7,848 | $654 | $15,269 | — |
| Lubbock County | $8,152 | $679 | $15,938 | 9.9% |
| Lynn County | $8,152 | $679 | $15,938 | 10.8% |
| Madison County | $8,030 | $669 | $15,695 | 10.3% |
| Marion County | $6,570 | $548 | $12,897 | 10.9% |
| Martin County | $8,517 | $710 | $16,547 | 9.2% |
| Mason County | $5,840 | $487 | $11,437 | 6.9% |
| Matagorda County | $9,308 | $776 | $18,068 | 13.1% |
| Maverick County | $7,057 | $588 | $13,870 | 11.5% |
| McCulloch County | $5,840 | $487 | $11,437 | 7.8% |
| McLennan County | $7,543 | $629 | $14,661 | 9.1% |
| McMullen County | $7,969 | $664 | $15,573 | 13.9% |
| Medina County | $9,490 | $791 | $18,554 | 10.5% |
| Menard County | $5,840 | $487 | $11,437 | 7.6% |
| Midland County | $8,517 | $710 | $16,547 | 7.4% |
| Milam County | $6,996 | $583 | $13,688 | 9.2% |
| Mills County | $6,996 | $583 | $13,688 | 9.0% |
| Mitchell County | $6,509 | $542 | $12,714 | 6.7% |
| Montague County | $6,692 | $558 | $13,079 | 8.5% |
| Montgomery County | $10,159 | $847 | $19,649 | 8.8% |
| Moore County | $7,726 | $644 | $15,148 | 11.6% |
| Morris County | $6,388 | $532 | $12,532 | 10.0% |
| Motley County | $7,665 | $639 | $14,965 | 10.9% |
| Nacogdoches County | $6,692 | $558 | $13,079 | 10.0% |
| Navarro County | $9,490 | $791 | $18,372 | 12.6% |
| Newton County | $6,692 | $558 | $13,079 | 11.0% |
| Nolan County | $6,509 | $542 | $12,714 | 10.9% |
| Nueces County | $8,517 | $710 | $16,608 | 10.8% |
| Ochiltree County | $7,726 | $644 | $15,148 | 9.4% |
| Oldham County | $8,273 | $689 | $16,121 | 10.0% |
| Orange County | $7,604 | $634 | $14,904 | 7.9% |
| Palo Pinto County | $9,490 | $791 | $18,372 | 12.5% |
| Panola County | $6,570 | $548 | $12,897 | 7.9% |
| Parker County | $10,342 | $862 | $20,014 | 8.9% |
| Parmer County | $7,726 | $644 | $15,148 | 9.6% |
| Pecos County | $7,848 | $654 | $15,269 | 10.1% |
| Polk County | $6,692 | $558 | $13,079 | 9.8% |
| Potter County | $8,273 | $689 | $16,121 | 12.9% |
| Presidio County | $6,448 | $537 | $12,593 | 12.2% |
| Rains County | $6,570 | $548 | $12,897 | 8.5% |
| Randall County | $8,273 | $689 | $16,121 | 8.2% |
| Reagan County | $5,840 | $487 | $11,437 | 7.0% |
| Real County | $7,057 | $588 | $13,870 | 11.5% |
| Red River County | $6,388 | $532 | $12,532 | 10.9% |
| Reeves County | $7,848 | $654 | $15,269 | 14.2% |
| Refugio County | $6,509 | $542 | $12,775 | 9.7% |
| Roberts County | $7,726 | $644 | $15,148 | 9.2% |
| Robertson County | $8,578 | $715 | $16,729 | 10.9% |
| Rockwall County | $10,342 | $862 | $20,014 | 7.5% |
| Runnels County | $6,509 | $542 | $12,714 | 9.2% |
| Rusk County | $6,996 | $583 | $13,688 | 8.4% |
| Sabine County | $6,692 | $558 | $13,079 | 9.7% |
| San Augustine County | $6,692 | $558 | $13,079 | 13.4% |
| San Jacinto County | $6,692 | $558 | $13,079 | 9.1% |
| San Patricio County | $8,517 | $710 | $16,608 | 10.8% |
| San Saba County | $6,996 | $583 | $13,748 | 10.8% |
| Schleicher County | $5,840 | $487 | $11,437 | 6.3% |
| Scurry County | $6,509 | $542 | $12,714 | 7.9% |
| Shackelford County | $6,509 | $542 | $12,714 | 7.3% |
| Shelby County | $6,692 | $558 | $13,079 | 11.5% |
| Sherman County | $7,726 | $644 | $15,148 | 9.0% |
| Smith County | $6,996 | $583 | $13,688 | 8.1% |
| Somervell County | $9,490 | $791 | $18,372 | 9.8% |
| Starr County | $7,543 | $629 | $14,843 | 17.1% |
| Stephens County | $6,509 | $542 | $12,714 | 9.5% |
| Sterling County | $6,266 | $522 | $12,228 | 4.9% |
| Stonewall County | $6,509 | $542 | $12,714 | 6.8% |
| Sutton County | $5,840 | $487 | $11,437 | 8.3% |
| Swisher County | $7,726 | $644 | $15,148 | 12.8% |
| Tarrant County | $10,950 | $913 | $21,231 | 11.0% |
| Taylor County | $6,935 | $578 | $13,505 | 8.3% |
| Terrell County | $7,848 | $654 | $15,269 | 12.3% |
| Terry County | $7,665 | $639 | $14,965 | 13.5% |
| Throckmorton County | $6,509 | $542 | $12,714 | 8.7% |
| Titus County | $6,388 | $532 | $12,532 | 9.0% |
| Tom Green County | $6,266 | $522 | $12,228 | 7.5% |
| Travis County | $12,714 | $1,060 | $24,698 | 10.0% |
| Trinity County | $6,692 | $558 | $13,079 | 9.5% |
| Tyler County | $6,692 | $558 | $13,079 | 9.4% |
| Upshur County | $6,996 | $583 | $13,688 | 9.2% |
| Upton County | $7,848 | $654 | $15,269 | 10.6% |
| Uvalde County | $7,057 | $588 | $13,870 | 10.9% |
| Val Verde County | $7,057 | $588 | $13,870 | 10.2% |
| Van Zandt County | $6,570 | $548 | $12,897 | 8.0% |
| Victoria County | $6,996 | $583 | $13,627 | 8.3% |
| Walker County | $9,308 | $776 | $18,068 | 13.0% |
| Waller County | $10,159 | $847 | $19,649 | 11.9% |
| Ward County | $7,848 | $654 | $15,269 | 10.6% |
| Washington County | $8,030 | $669 | $15,695 | 8.7% |
| Webb County | $7,118 | $593 | $13,870 | 10.5% |
| Wharton County | $9,308 | $776 | $18,068 | 11.5% |
| Wheeler County | $7,726 | $644 | $15,148 | 10.7% |
| Wichita County | $7,239 | $603 | $14,053 | 8.9% |
| Wilbarger County | $6,692 | $558 | $13,079 | 8.9% |
| Willacy County | $7,543 | $629 | $14,843 | 14.0% |
| Williamson County | $11,133 | $928 | $21,657 | 8.6% |
| Wilson County | $9,490 | $791 | $18,554 | 8.8% |
| Winkler County | $7,848 | $654 | $15,269 | 7.6% |
| Wise County | $10,342 | $862 | $20,014 | 10.0% |
| Wood County | $6,570 | $548 | $12,897 | 8.2% |
| Yoakum County | $7,665 | $639 | $14,965 | 8.4% |
| Young County | $6,692 | $558 | $13,079 | 7.8% |
| Zapata County | $6,692 | $558 | $13,079 | 16.5% |
| Zavala County | $7,057 | $588 | $13,870 | 18.2% |
Click a column to sort it. The share compares care for one 4-year-old with the county's median family income. A dash means EPI publishes no income figure for that county.
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