Texas is one of the top 10 most affordable states for child care in the U.S., according to a nationwide 2024 study by ChildCare Aware of America. The average annual cost of child care for an infant in Texas is $11,349, nearly 14 percent below the national average of $13,128. This puts Texas in the top 20 percent of states for affordability.
For many Texas families, especially married couples with a median income of $116,166, child care consumes about 10 percent of household earnings well below what families pay in more expensive states like California, where annual infant care costs exceed $22,000. The study also found that, in Texas, child care often costs less than housing. On average, families in Texas pay $24,144 annually for housing and $21,574 for care for both an infant and toddler.
Cost Comparisons and State Ranking
By category, Texas child care costs break down as follows:
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Infant in family child care: $10,010/year
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Toddler in family child care: $9,957/year
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Infant in center-based care: $11,349/year
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Toddler in center-based care: $10,921/year
This makes Texas a more viable state for working parents trying to balance child care with other rising living expenses. In contrast, states like California and Massachusetts ranked among the least affordable, where child care can take up to 16 percent of household income.
Texas lawmakers and city officials have taken recent steps to address child care availability alongside affordability. In 2024, the Dallas City Council approved a proposal to simplify zoning regulations, allowing more daycare facilities to operate within residential neighborhoods.
At the state level, Sen. Royce West (D-Dallas) proposed legislation that would provide tax breaks to child care centers. The bill, introduced earlier this year, aims to help centers raise salaries and improve conditions, indirectly supporting both providers and families. The legislation is currently with the Senate Committee on Finance.
Nationwide, the study warns that despite improvements in some states, the broader issue remains child care in America continues to be costly and, in many places, hard to access. But in Texas, the combination of affordability and ongoing local reforms puts the state ahead in helping families manage one of their biggest expenses.
