With only 10 counties across the state, average child care tuition in New Hampshire still ranges from $10,500 to $18,500 – or in some cases, more. The child’s age bracket, whether care is based out of a center or a home, and the locale itself are all major factors in determining where on this spectrum tuition falls. All categories considered, the average child care tuition across New Hampshire is $13,840 for 2026.

Given the wide range of prices that seem to be working for New Hampshire child care providers, peer businesses might consider using local benchmarks to help set or update their own prices. However, local averages are just a starting point among many other factors that should be considered to establish profitable pricing. Hence, the data below is broken out into categorical averages across each county in the state to give providers an idea of the prices parents are seeing and committing to – as well as some tips on how to evaluate and price your own unique services.

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How to price child care and daycare services in New Hampshire

Published averages are a useful starting point for New Hampshire programs, but they are not a pricing plan. Tuition in Manchester will not look like tuition in Nashua, Concord, or Portsmouth, and a rural county with few licensed seats can support a very different rate than a crowded southern market. Overhead, staff-to-child ratios, food and materials, licensing costs, and nearby competition all matter more than one statewide figure. Rates also have to fit local wages, particularly in towns where child care already claims a large share of household income.

Programs with a clear edge can often price above the local going rate. That edge might be a higher Granite Steps for Quality rating, year-round or nontraditional hours, infant care that stays available when other programs close it, or a curriculum families cannot find nearby. Even then, tuition should be tested against actual enrollment, waitlists, rising wages and utilities, and seasonal shifts in demand. Small, regular adjustments usually work better than leaving rates frozen for years. Playground’s child care tuition pricing guide outlines a process for building and updating those rates using your own finances and local market conditions.

Average child care tuition in New Hampshire by center type and age

Averages are across all counties, separated by child age and center type (home-based or center-based). Costs are for a full year of care.

Most and least expensive counties in New Hampshire for child care

Out of 10 total New Hampshire counties, tuition for children under five comes in at the following average rates for 2026:

1. Rockingham County: $14,813

2. Hillsborough County: $14,448

3. Strafford County: $13,987

4. Belknap County: $13,863

5. Merrimack County: $13,827

6. Sullivan County: $13,780

7. Cheshire County: $13,721

8. Grafton County: $13,699

9. Carroll County: $13,275

10. Coos County: $12,986

A further breakdown of the average costs by care type and center type can be found below.

Average child care costs in New Hampshire by county

All 10 New Hampshire counties are listed in alphabetical order, with breakdowns of average prices across infant, preschool and toddler care in centers and homes. 

1. Belknap County

   • Average child care tuition: $13,863

   • Infant, center-based care: $17,500

   • Infant, home-based care: $12,059

   • Toddler, center-based care: $16,590

   • Toddler, home-based care: $11,239

   • Preschool, center-based care: $14,548

   • Preschool, home-based care: $11,239

2. Carroll County

   • Average child care tuition: $13,275

   • Infant, center-based care: $16,766

   • Infant, home-based care: $11,545

   • Toddler, center-based care: $15,899

   • Toddler, home-based care: $10,751

   • Preschool, center-based care: $13,938

   • Preschool, home-based care: $10,751

3. Cheshire County

   • Average child care tuition: $13,721

   • Infant, center-based care: $17,323

   • Infant, home-based care: $11,935

   • Toddler, center-based care: $16,423

   • Toddler, home-based care: $11,121

   • Preschool, center-based care: $14,400

   • Preschool, home-based care: $11,121

4. Coos County

   • Average child care tuition: $12,986

   • Infant, center-based care: $16,374

   • Infant, home-based care: $11,305

   • Toddler, center-based care: $15,511

   • Toddler, home-based care: $10,559

   • Preschool, center-based care: $13,609

   • Preschool, home-based care: $10,559

5. Grafton County

   • Average child care tuition: $13,699

   • Infant, center-based care: $17,302

   • Infant, home-based care: $11,914

   • Toddler, center-based care: $16,406

   • Toddler, home-based care: $11,094

   • Preschool, center-based care: $14,384

   • Preschool, home-based care: $11,094

6. Hillsborough County

   • Average child care tuition: $14,448

   • Infant, center-based care: $18,259

   • Infant, home-based care: $12,561

   • Toddler, center-based care: $17,319

   • Toddler, home-based care: $11,684

   • Preschool, center-based care: $15,180

   • Preschool, home-based care: $11,684

7. Merrimack County

   • Average child care tuition: $13,827

   • Infant, center-based care: $17,467

   • Infant, home-based care: $12,024

   • Toddler, center-based care: $16,565

   • Toddler, home-based care: $11,194

   • Preschool, center-based care: $14,522

   • Preschool, home-based care: $11,194

8. Rockingham County

   • Average child care tuition: $14,813

   • Infant, center-based care: $18,722

   • Infant, home-based care: $12,877

   • Toddler, center-based care: $17,760

   • Toddler, home-based care: $11,977

   • Preschool, center-based care: $15,566

   • Preschool, home-based care: $11,977

9. Strafford County

   • Average child care tuition: $13,987

   • Infant, center-based care: $17,668

   • Infant, home-based care: $12,163

   • Toddler, center-based care: $16,757

   • Toddler, home-based care: $11,322

   • Preschool, center-based care: $14,688

   • Preschool, home-based care: $11,322

10. Sullivan County

• Average child care tuition: $13,780

• Infant, center-based care: $17,391

• Infant, home-based care: $11,990

• Toddler, center-based care: $16,483

• Toddler, home-based care: $11,180

• Preschool, center-based care: $14,455

• Preschool, home-based care: $11,180

Data and Methodology

The data above is based on data from the National Database of Childcare Prices for 2024, released by the U.S. Department of Labor (Women’s Bureau), and adjusted to 2026 dollars based on the Consumer Price Index from the Bureau of Labor Statistics for December 2024 through April 2026.