Enrollment capacity among early child care providers depends on several key factors, including space limitations, statewide compliance ratios, local demand, and staffing constraints. At the same time, the number of children enrolled directly affects a provider’s profitability and growth potential. Nationwide, child care centers serve an average of 83 children, while home-based providers operate on a smaller scale with an average capacity of 9.4 children. These averages vary significantly across states due to differences in culture, legislation, geography, infrastructure, and other local conditions. 

Enrollment capacity is closely tied to operational management, revenue generation, and available growth opportunities. With this in mind, Playground analyzed 2025 data to examine average enrollment capacities for both center-based and home-based providers in each state, along with the total number of centers and the one-year trajectory of the early child care industry.

Key findings

• South Carolina has the highest average enrollment at child care centers. Center-based providers in the state serve an average of nearly 131 children across 1,608 centers. The number of centers grew 2.3% between 2024 and 2025. Home-based providers in South Carolina serve an average of 6.2 children across 750 homes.

• Utah leads in home-based enrollment. Utah has the highest average home-based capacity at 14.3 children, compared to the national average of 9.4. There are 879 licensed home-based providers across the state. New York (14.0) and Indiana (13.0) also rank among the highest average enrollment per home-based provider.

• Texas offers the greatest overall center-based capacity. Center-based providers in Texas have the capacity to serve more than 1.1 million children, far exceeding any other state. California ranks second with 769,167 center-based slots. California also leads in home-based capacity with 29,693 slots, followed by New York with 11,657.

• Idaho is shifting rapidly from home-based to center-based care. The state recorded the largest relative increase in child care centers, growing 7.7% year-over-year to 981 centers. However, average enrollment per center remains the lowest in the nation at just 35.6 children. At the same time, Idaho experienced the largest decline in home-based providers (−13.6% year-over-year), dropping to 242 locations with an average capacity of 5.7 children.

• The number of child care centers declined in roughly half of all states. Despite ongoing national shortages in child care supply, thin margins and persistent staffing challenges have contributed to reductions in both centers and home-based providers – and therefore overall enrollment capacity – in just over half of states. Montana saw the largest drop (−5.9% year-over-year), followed by North Carolina (−4.1%) and Nebraska (−2.9%).

• Home-based providers increased in only eight states. California posted the largest gain (+7.7%), followed by New York (+6.7%), Oregon (+5.2%), Massachusetts (+4.1%), North Carolina (+3.4%), Oklahoma (+2.7%), and Virginia (+0.9%). Kentucky remained flat, while the remaining states saw declines.

Child Care Centers, Home-Based Providers, and Enrollment Capacity by State

States are ranked based on the average center-based enrollment capacity.

1. South Carolina

   • Average center capacity: 1130.6

   • Number of center-based providers: 1608

   • Year over year change in center-based providers: 2.30%

   • Total center-based capacity: 209,999

   • Average home-based capacity: 6.208

   • Number of home-based providers: 750

   • YoY supply of home-based providers: -9.00%

   • Total home-based capacity: 4,656

2. Georgia

   • Average center capacity: 1119.7

   • Number of center-based providers: 3165

   • Year over year change in center-based providers: -2.30%

   • Total center-based capacity: 378,866

   • Average home-based capacity: 5.965284474

   • Number of home-based providers: 1037

   • YoY supply of home-based providers: -7.30%

   • Total home-based capacity: 6,186

3. Virginia

   • Average center capacity: 1118.8

   • Number of center-based providers: 1537

   • Year over year change in center-based providers: -1.70%

   • Total center-based capacity: 182,525

   • Average home-based capacity: 8.981093856

   • Number of home-based providers: 1481

   • YoY supply of home-based providers: 0.90%

   • Total home-based capacity: 13,301

4. Texas

   • Average center capacity: 1118.2

   • Number of center-based providers: 9686

   • Year over year change in center-based providers: -2.10%

   • Total center-based capacity: 1,144,744

   • Average home-based capacity: 11.89049717

   • Number of home-based providers: 1589

   • YoY supply of home-based providers: -1.50%

   • Total home-based capacity: 18,894

5. Florida

   • Average center capacity: 1114.8

   • Number of center-based providers: 6570

   • Year over year change in center-based providers: -2.00%

   • Total center-based capacity: 754,332

   • Average home-based capacity: 9.795995671

   • Number of home-based providers: 1848

   • YoY supply of home-based providers: -3.20%

   • Total home-based capacity: 18,103

6. Arizona

   • Average center capacity: 1113.4

   • Number of center-based providers: 2343

   • Year over year change in center-based providers: -0.20%

   • Total center-based capacity: 265,791

   • Average home-based capacity: 7.411378556

   • Number of home-based providers: 457

   • YoY supply of home-based providers: -3.40%

   • Total home-based capacity: 3,387

7. Arkansas

   • Average center capacity: 1113.2

   • Number of center-based providers: 1703

   • Year over year change in center-based providers: -1.70%

   • Total center-based capacity: 192,717

   • Average home-based capacity: 12.30569948

   • Number of home-based providers: 193

   • YoY supply of home-based providers: -9.00%

   • Total home-based capacity: 2,375

8. Indiana

   • Average center capacity: 1110.0

   • Number of center-based providers: 779

   • Year over year change in center-based providers: -0.80%

   • Total center-based capacity: 85,699

   • Average home-based capacity: 13.04123711

   • Number of home-based providers: 1940

   • YoY supply of home-based providers: -9.40%

   • Total home-based capacity: 25,300

9. Delaware

   • Average center capacity: 1108.2

   • Number of center-based providers: 486

   • Year over year change in center-based providers: 4.30%

   • Total center-based capacity: 52,597

   • Average home-based capacity: 8.893203883

   • Number of home-based providers: 412

   • YoY supply of home-based providers: -1.40%

   • Total home-based capacity: 3,664

10. Nevada

• Average center capacity: 1106.1

• Number of center-based providers: 466

• Year over year change in center-based providers: -1.10%

• Total center-based capacity: 49,423

• Average home-based capacity: 9.226415094

• Number of home-based providers: 159

• YoY supply of home-based providers: -11.20%

• Total home-based capacity: 1,467

11. New Jersey

• Average center capacity: 1099.2

• Number of center-based providers: 4102

• Year over year change in center-based providers: NA

• Total center-based capacity: 406,847

• Average home-based capacity: 4.963190184

• Number of home-based providers: 1304

• YoY supply of home-based providers: NA

• Total home-based capacity: 6,472

12. Tennessee

• Average center capacity: 1098.4

• Number of center-based providers: 1878

• Year over year change in center-based providers: -0.40%

• Total center-based capacity: 184,795

• Average home-based capacity: 10.17849462

• Number of home-based providers: 465

• YoY supply of home-based providers: -1.10%

• Total home-based capacity: 4,733

13. South Dakota

• Average center capacity: 1097.2

• Number of center-based providers: 307

• Year over year change in center-based providers: 2.00%

• Total center-based capacity: 29,837

• Average home-based capacity: 11.94314381

• Number of home-based providers: 299

• YoY supply of home-based providers: -10.50%

• Total home-based capacity: 3,571

14. Nebraska

• Average center capacity: 1095.9

• Number of center-based providers: 743

• Year over year change in center-based providers: -2.90%

• Total center-based capacity: 71,255

• Average home-based capacity: 10.68045831

• Number of home-based providers: 1571

• YoY supply of home-based providers: -1.40%

• Total home-based capacity: 16,779

15. Iowa

• Average center capacity: 1094.2

• Number of center-based providers: 1491

• Year over year change in center-based providers: -1.70%

• Total center-based capacity: 140,506

• Average home-based capacity: 11.00173712

• Number of home-based providers: 1727

• YoY supply of home-based providers: -8.00%

• Total home-based capacity: 19,000

16. Mississippi

• Average center capacity: 1093.5

• Number of center-based providers: 1456

• Year over year change in center-based providers: -2.70%

• Total center-based capacity: 136,134

• Average home-based capacity: 3.333333333

• Number of home-based providers: 36

• YoY supply of home-based providers: NA

• Total home-based capacity: 120

17. Utah

• Average center capacity: 1091.8

• Number of center-based providers: 513

• Year over year change in center-based providers: -1.90%

• Total center-based capacity: 47,088

• Average home-based capacity: 14.25255973

• Number of home-based providers: 879

• YoY supply of home-based providers: -6.30%

• Total home-based capacity: 12,528

18. Kentucky

• Average center capacity: 1091.2

• Number of center-based providers: 1834

• Year over year change in center-based providers: 0.50%

• Total center-based capacity: 167,280

• Average home-based capacity: 5.995391705

• Number of home-based providers: 217

• YoY supply of home-based providers: 0%

• Total home-based capacity: 1,301

19. Illinois

• Average center capacity: 1089.2

• Number of center-based providers: 2276

• Year over year change in center-based providers: 0.30%

• Total center-based capacity: 203,054

• Average home-based capacity: 10.09359945

• Number of home-based providers: 4359

• YoY supply of home-based providers: -0.20%

• Total home-based capacity: 43,998

20. Louisiana

• Average center capacity: 1086.0

• Number of center-based providers: 1528

• Year over year change in center-based providers: NA

• Total center-based capacity: 131,380

• Average home-based capacity: NA

• Number of home-based providers: NA

• YoY supply of home-based providers: NA

• Total home-based capacity: NA

21. New Mexico

• Average center capacity: 1085.2

• Number of center-based providers: 794

• Year over year change in center-based providers: NA

• Total center-based capacity: 67,674

• Average home-based capacity: 9.295302013

• Number of home-based providers: 298

• YoY supply of home-based providers: NA

• Total home-based capacity: 2,770

22. Minnesota

• Average center capacity: 1084.2

• Number of center-based providers: 1813

• Year over year change in center-based providers: 0.60%

• Total center-based capacity: 152,566

• Average home-based capacity: 11.81512605

• Number of home-based providers: 5474

• YoY supply of home-based providers: -5.40%

• Total home-based capacity: 64,676

23. Ohio

• Average center capacity: 1083.5

• Number of center-based providers: 6161

• Year over year change in center-based providers: 1.80%

• Total center-based capacity: 514,313

• Average home-based capacity: 6.185436893

• Number of home-based providers: 2060

• YoY supply of home-based providers: -8.00%

• Total home-based capacity: 12,742

24. North Carolina

• Average center capacity: 1080.5

• Number of center-based providers: 4041

• Year over year change in center-based providers: -4.10%

• Total center-based capacity: 325,484

• Average home-based capacity: 8.620209059

• Number of home-based providers: 1148

• YoY supply of home-based providers: 3.40%

• Total home-based capacity: 9,896

25. Michigan

• Average center capacity: 1080.1

• Number of center-based providers: 4559

• Year over year change in center-based providers: -0.40%

• Total center-based capacity: 365,274

• Average home-based capacity: 9.35321674

• Number of home-based providers: 3202

• YoY supply of home-based providers: -3.50%

• Total home-based capacity: 29,949

26. Pennsylvania

• Average center capacity: 1079.7

• Number of center-based providers: 4889

• Year over year change in center-based providers: NA

• Total center-based capacity: 389,603

• Average home-based capacity: 8.147096774

• Number of home-based providers: 1550

• YoY supply of home-based providers: NA

• Total home-based capacity: 12,628

27. Alaska

• Average center capacity: 1077.2

• Number of center-based providers: 205

• Year over year change in center-based providers: -1.90%

• Total center-based capacity: 15,816

• Average home-based capacity: 8.026515152

• Number of home-based providers: 264

• YoY supply of home-based providers: NA

• Total home-based capacity: 2,119

28. Connecticut

• Average center capacity: 1076.9

• Number of center-based providers: 1392

• Year over year change in center-based providers: 0.80%

• Total center-based capacity: 107,107

• Average home-based capacity: 8.853288364

• Number of home-based providers: 1779

• YoY supply of home-based providers: -0.70%

• Total home-based capacity: 15,750

29. Missouri

• Average center capacity: 1076.3

• Number of center-based providers: 1674

• Year over year change in center-based providers: -1.00%

• Total center-based capacity: 127,808

• Average home-based capacity: 11.72666667

• Number of home-based providers: 600

• YoY supply of home-based providers: -4.80%

• Total home-based capacity: 7,036

30. New York

• Average center capacity: 1075.0

• Number of center-based providers: 4349

• Year over year change in center-based providers: 0.40%

• Total center-based capacity: 326,196

• Average home-based capacity: 13.96079609

• Number of home-based providers: 11,657

• YoY supply of home-based providers: 6.70%

• Total home-based capacity: 162,741

31. Kansas

• Average center capacity: 1074.7

• Number of center-based providers: 811

• Year over year change in center-based providers: -2.80%

• Total center-based capacity: 60,575

• Average home-based capacity: 11.96779964

• Number of home-based providers: 2795

• YoY supply of home-based providers: -5.90%

• Total home-based capacity: 33,450

32. Washington

• Average center capacity: 1074.4

• Number of center-based providers: 1844

• Year over year change in center-based providers: NA

• Total center-based capacity: 137,267

• Average home-based capacity: 9.571194379

• Number of home-based providers: 4270

• YoY supply of home-based providers: NA

• Total home-based capacity: 40,869

33. Rhode Island

• Average center capacity: 1074.1

• Number of center-based providers: 418

• Year over year change in center-based providers: 0.50%

• Total center-based capacity: 30,960

• Average home-based capacity: 7.762162162

• Number of home-based providers: 370

• YoY supply of home-based providers: -8.20%

• Total home-based capacity: 2,872

34. Oklahoma

• Average center capacity: 1073.8

• Number of center-based providers: 1472

• Year over year change in center-based providers: 4.00%

• Total center-based capacity: 108,682

• Average home-based capacity: 9.572976879

• Number of home-based providers: 1384

• YoY supply of home-based providers: 2.70%

• Total home-based capacity: 13,249

35. Colorado

• Average center capacity: 1071.4

• Number of center-based providers: 2154

• Year over year change in center-based providers: -0.70%

• Total center-based capacity: 153,790

• Average home-based capacity: 8.782276547

• Number of home-based providers: 1309

• YoY supply of home-based providers: -5.40%

• Total home-based capacity: 11,496

36. Wisconsin

• Average center capacity: 1069.4

• Number of center-based providers: 2005

• Year over year change in center-based providers: NA

• Total center-based capacity: 139,241

• Average home-based capacity: 7.950892857

• Number of home-based providers: 1568

• YoY supply of home-based providers: -0.80%

• Total home-based capacity: 12,467

37. Alabama

• Average center capacity: 1068.3

• Number of center-based providers: 1425

• Year over year change in center-based providers: 2.40%

• Total center-based capacity: 97,359

• Average home-based capacity: 7.850202429

• Number of home-based providers: 494

• YoY supply of home-based providers: -10.70%

• Total home-based capacity: 3,878

38. Wyoming

• Average center capacity: 1068.1

• Number of center-based providers: 267

• Year over year change in center-based providers: -2.60%

• Total center-based capacity: 18,182

• Average home-based capacity: 11.4813278

• Number of home-based providers: 241

• YoY supply of home-based providers: -3.60%

• Total home-based capacity: 2,767

39. Maryland

• Average center capacity: 1067.0

• Number of center-based providers: 2425

• Year over year change in center-based providers: 0.10%

• Total center-based capacity: 162,510

• Average home-based capacity: 7.87481408

• Number of home-based providers: 4034

• YoY supply of home-based providers: -0.80%

• Total home-based capacity: 31,767

40. Massachusetts

• Average center capacity: 1066.3

• Number of center-based providers: 2989

• Year over year change in center-based providers: -1.10%

• Total center-based capacity: 198,142

• Average home-based capacity: 7.785574092

• Number of home-based providers: 6114

• YoY supply of home-based providers: 4.10%

• Total home-based capacity: 47,601

41. North Dakota

• Average center capacity: 1062.3

• Number of center-based providers: 478

• Year over year change in center-based providers: 3.50%

• Total center-based capacity: 29,768

• Average home-based capacity: 12.62052117

• Number of home-based providers: 614

• YoY supply of home-based providers: -6.50%

• Total home-based capacity: 7,749

42. New Hampshire

• Average center capacity: 1059.6

• Number of center-based providers: 613

• Year over year change in center-based providers: -0.20%

• Total center-based capacity: 36,545

• Average home-based capacity: 10.45192308

• Number of home-based providers: 104

• YoY supply of home-based providers: -1.90%

• Total home-based capacity: 1,087

43. Oregon

• Average center capacity: 1059.2

• Number of center-based providers: 1424

• Year over year change in center-based providers: 1.80%

• Total center-based capacity: 84,359

• Average home-based capacity: 7.211787819

• Number of home-based providers: 2545

• YoY supply of home-based providers: 5.20%

• Total home-based capacity: 18,354

44. California

• Average center capacity: 1055.4

• Number of center-based providers: 13,876

• Year over year change in center-based providers: -2.40%

• Total center-based capacity: 769,167

• Average home-based capacity: 10.73805274

• Number of home-based providers: 29,693

• YoY supply of home-based providers: 7.70%

• Total home-based capacity: 318,845

45. Maine

• Average center capacity: 1054.5

• Number of center-based providers: 761

• Year over year change in center-based providers: -1.90%

• Total center-based capacity: 41,501

• Average home-based capacity: 11.42519685

• Number of home-based providers: 635

• YoY supply of home-based providers: -0.30%

• Total home-based capacity: 7,255

46. Montana

• Average center capacity: 1050.5

• Number of center-based providers: 302

• Year over year change in center-based providers: -5.90%

• Total center-based capacity: 15,251

• Average home-based capacity: 12.12179487

• Number of home-based providers: 468

• YoY supply of home-based providers: -11.70%

• Total home-based capacity: 5,673

47. Hawaii

• Average center capacity: 1046.1

• Number of center-based providers: 531

• Year over year change in center-based providers: -2.40%

• Total center-based capacity: 24,482

• Average home-based capacity: 5.944680851

• Number of home-based providers: 235

• YoY supply of home-based providers: -2.90%

• Total home-based capacity: 1,397

48. Vermont

• Average center capacity: 1044.9

• Number of center-based providers: 662

• Year over year change in center-based providers: NA

• Total center-based capacity: 29,709

• Average home-based capacity: 10.11442786

• Number of home-based providers: 402

• YoY supply of home-based providers: NA

• Total home-based capacity: 4,066

49. Idaho

• Average center capacity: 1035.6

• Number of center-based providers: 981

• Year over year change in center-based providers: 7.70%

• Total center-based capacity: 34,913

• Average home-based capacity: 5.727272727

• Number of home-based providers: 242

• YoY supply of home-based providers: -13.60%

• Total home-based capacity: 1,386

Data and Methodology

The supply and capacity data in this article come from Child Care in America: 2025 Price & Supply, Child Care Aware® of America’s (CCAoA) annual report on the U.S. child care landscape. The figures are drawn from a nationwide survey of state Child Care Resource and Referral agencies and state agencies, conducted in January 2026. Respondents reported the number of licensed child care centers and family child care homes, along with total capacity (seats), reflecting the most recent point-in-time data available between December 2025 and March 2026. Where survey responses were unavailable, CCAoA supplemented with public licensing databases for a small number of states. Population data for children under age five comes from the U.S. Census Bureau 1-Year American Community Survey for 2024.