DOI: 10.3886/e226943
title: National Database of Childcare Prices 2008-2022

description: The National Database of Childcare Prices (NDCP) provides childcare prices at the county level in the United States. The NDCP is a new data source, and the most comprehensive federal source of childcare prices at the county level in the United States. The NDCP was developed to fill a need for local-level childcare price data, standardized across U.S. states. Most existing sources of childcare price data provide prices at the state level, yet parents must choose childcare providers that are in close proximity to their homes or workplaces. Therefore, state averages are unlikely to be good estimates of the prices parents encounter in the market. State average prices do not reflect the substantial variation in prices from one locale to the next within a state and underestimate prices in urban areas.The NDCP provides data on the price of childcare by children's age groups and care setting (home-based or center-based) at the median and 75th percentile over an 15-year period (2008-2022, inclusive) at the county level. The data were obtained from state Lead Agencies responsible for conducting market rate surveys (MRS) according to Child Care and Development Fund regulations. A MRS is the collection and analysis of prices charged by childcare providers for services in the priced market. All state Lead Agencies must conduct a survey and develop a report on local childcare prices in their state every three years. The Women's Bureau contracted with ICF to obtain reports and data from previously conducted surveys to develop the NDCP. The NDCP standardizes and harmonizes data across years and geographies for about 200 previously-conducted MRS. The NDCP also provides county-level demographic and economic data from the American Community Survey.The accompanying User Guide (U.S. Department of Labor, Women's Bureau National Database of Childcare Prices: Final Report) provides detailed information about the data sources, data collection strategy, standardization and imputation of the data, and data limitations to inform and assist researchers who may be interested in using the data for future analyses. The following items are provided in the User Guide as appendices.Appendix A: Data Collection Protocol and Decisions Made During Data Entry Process, Including State NuancesAppendix B: List of Imputations Performed for Each State and YearAppendix C: County-Level Data DictionaryAppendix D: Methods Used for Specific Demographic Variables – CountyAppendix E: State-Level Data DictionaryAppendix F: Methods Used for Specific Demographic Variables – StateAppendix G: 2008-2018 Imputations for County-Level Childcare Prices from Statewide DataAppendix H: Price Quintile Ranges for State-Level Price DatabaseAppendix I: Summary of Additional 2008-2018 Data Added as a Result of Additional In-Between Study Imputations
description: Response Rates: ICF requested previously-published market rate surveys (MRS) from Lead Agencies of all U.S. states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. A total of 35 states and DC provided MRS reports during the initial data collection period (2008-2018) and a total of 47 states and territories provided MRS reports during the subsequent data collection period (2019-2022). For states where publicly available data was not readily accessible or for which additional data was needed, ICF contacted the appropriate state office following the established protocol approved by the Office of Management and Budget. In several states, data gaps exist for entire counties, specific age groups, or provider types. Some states provided reasons for these gaps, such as low response rates, insufficient provider numbers, or the unavailability of certain types of care. However, other states did not explain the absence of data. ICF could only report data that was either directly obtained from the states or found in state MRS reports online, ensuring the data’s integrity.
description: All U.S. states and the District of Columbia were in the universe for the data collection. States and counties were not sampled. Data are made available for years and geographies the states had available in their market rate surveys and where possible to impute missing data with adequate precision at the county level.
description: All U.S. counties<br>. Smallest Geographic Unit: U. S. counties
description: mail questionnaire; telephone interview; The study team at the Department of Labor Women's Bureau cannot answer questions directly about the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Market Rate Survey briefs, which are available to download in this collection.