Arlington County is the most expensive place in the United States for child care, according to a new report from The Wall Street Journal.
It costs about $147,000 to foot the bill for five years of day care in Arlington — more than triple the country’s median cost of $44,000, according to the WSJ. The report highlights an everyday economic struggle for many Arlington households, local leaders say.
A recent Chamber of Commerce survey of working parents and employers found that 80% of respondents cite “high costs” as a major challenge.
“Child care costs are unsustainable for many working families, and the shortage of affordable options is holding parents back from fully participating in the workforce,” Chamber CEO Kate Bates said.
The high cost of child care is something the Arlington County Board has focused on “for many years,” Board member Maureen Coffey told ARLnow. The highlighted the creation of the Child Care Initiative in 2017.
The program aims to address “the root causes of both cost and availability” through zoning and permitting changes, as well as reviewing licensing requirements. The Board also awarded nearly $5 million last year toward expanding child care providers “who are committed to providing affordable care.”
“The County Board is committed to addressing the cost of child care, which is one of the highest financial stressors for families in our community,” Coffey said. “Early childhood care and education are foundational for children’s future development and are critical supports for parents and family to maintain economic independence.”
The WSJ’s report methodology determined the costs of child care by using federal 2022 data, “adjusted to 2024 dollars.”
For each county, the Journal used the Labor Department data to calculate the daycare-center cost of one year of infant care, two years of toddler care and two years of preschool—the years leading up to kindergarten.
The total median cost for the most expensive area, Arlington County, Va., was nearly $147,000. Wayne County, Ky., was the least expensive, at roughly $24,000.
The Chamber of Commerce, meanwhile, places the average yearly cost of daycare for a four-year-old and an infant in Arlington at $42,240.
Families in Arlington can apply for child-care subsidies through the state, although their household income must be within 85% of Virginia’s average income. This means the annual income of a family of four can’t exceed $51,360 — a limitation that bars many households in Arlington, where, according to Census data, the median household income is $140,160.
Arlington County also provides a local child care subsidy, which is “intended to serve young parents (up to age 24), as well as families who are eligible for the state subsidy who are on the state subsidy wait list,” County Board spokesperson David Barrera said.
County records show the amount of Arlington kids receiving a child care subsidy is trending upward. Last year, subsidies were granted to 390 local children.
Arlington’s fiscal year 2026 budget includes $300,000 in one-time funding for Arlington families on the state’s child-care subsidy waitlist. It also provides $358,000 in one-time funding for the county’s licensing system for child-care centers.
The WSJ’s report comes on the heels of a new Arlington Child Care Alliance program, which the Chamber debuted in June. It aims to support family day home providers and connect parents to child-care information and resources.
The County Board shared concerns about the cost of child care with members of the General Assembly during a work session last December.
“Virginia has made a number of investments that are excellent … but we need additional investments,” Coffey said at the time.
Photo via BBC Creative/Unsplash.
