May 28, 2025 - News
D.C. parents pay most for daycare in U.S.
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The rising cost of daycare is outpacing inflation, according to a new report.
Why it matters: Climbing child care costs put a huge financial strain on families, forcing some parents — typically women — to either ratchet back their working hours or leave the labor force entirely, writes Axios' Emily Peck.
By the numbers: The average annual cost of D.C. daycare tuition for two children — one toddler and one infant — was $47,174 last year, according to data from Child Care Aware, an advocacy group.
- That's about 42% of the median household annual income in D.C., based on Census data released in 2024.
Zoom out: Meanwhile, the average annual cost of daycare tuition nationwide for two children was $28,168 — about 35% of U.S. median household annual income.