MASS. – A new study finds families in Massachusetts pay 18.8% of their income on child care, about one percent higher than the national average. The rate of income Massachusetts families pay in child care is 14th highest in the country, when compared to other states.
The study finds families in Massachusetts earn an average of $2,189 weekly, and spend an average of $411 on child care, about $1 of every $5.30 earned. Nationwide, families earn an average of $1,650 and spend $293 on child care.
In Massachusetts, 57% of families who use child care report they pay for it, which is also higher than the national average of 50%. Nationwide, 22% of families say their source of child care relies on family. The national average increases to 60% paying for child care for those between 25 and 29 years of age.
New Hampshire, tied with South Dakota, has families paying the smallest portion of income for child care, 11.6%. New Hampshire families spend an average of $240 for child care weekly, with an average income of $2,081.
At the other end of the spectrum, two states have families who pay over 25%, or $1 of every $4 of income. In Nevada, families pay 27.8% of their income, while in Montana, families pay 26.2%. Each of the top eight states where families pay the highest portion of income for child care is over 20%, or $1 of every $5 of income.
See the ranking of each state below, or visit the LendingTree website for additional data, and the methodology of the study.
