Childcare Costs in Vermont vs Salary (2026)
Full-time infant daycare in Vermont runs about $1,500 a month — $18,000 a year, or 22.8% of the $79,000 median household income, and 26% above the 50-state average. Here is what that means for going back to work.
Average daycare cost in Vermont
- Per month
- $1,500
- Per week
- $346
- Per year
- $18,000
Full-time infant care. Preschool-age care is about $1,420 a month.
Next steps
Vermont childcare and cost-of-living figures
| Figure | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Infant daycare (0–2), full time | $1,500 | $18,000 |
| Four-year-old care, full time | $1,420 | $17,040 |
| Median 2-bedroom rent | $1,450 | $17,400 |
| Commute for the returning parent | $220 | $2,640 |
| Median household income | $6,583 | $79,000 |
Childcare prices are the published 2023 state averages (Vermont: $17,973 a year for infant care, $17,043 for a 4-year-old); income and rent are 2026 estimates. Childcare: Child Care Aware of America — Price of Care: 2023 Affordability Analysis (Table I). Income: U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey. Housing: HUD Fair Market Rents. Full methodology and dataset.
What salary do you need to break even in Vermont?
One child in care
$21,000
Gross salary needed to cover $20,640 of childcare and commuting after tax.
Two children in care
$39,000
Gross salary needed to cover $37,680 for an infant plus a four-year-old, and the commute.
Childcare plus rent consumes roughly 44.8% of the median Vermont household income, far above the 7% the federal government calls affordable. Below the break-even line a second income is close to unpaid work in cash terms — the second-earner trap — though pension contributions and future wage growth still argue for staying in work (see the opportunity cost of staying home).
Test your own salary against these figures with the two-income break-even calculator or see what survives your nursery bill with the childcare vs salary calculator.
Run your own Vermont numbers
Load the Vermont averages into the calculator — $1,500 of childcare, $1,450 of rent and a $79,000 household income — then replace them with your real salary and daycare quote.
Use these Vermont numbersVermont childcare cost FAQs
How much does daycare cost in Vermont?
Full-time infant daycare in Vermont averages about $1,500 a month ($18,000 a year) in 2026 — about 26% above the 50-state average of $1,188. Care for a four-year-old is cheaper, around $1,420 a month, because required staff-to-child ratios loosen.
What salary do you need to break even on childcare in Vermont?
A returning parent in Vermont needs roughly $21,000 gross to cover one infant in full-time care plus commuting after federal tax. With two children in care the break-even rises to about $39,000.
What percentage of income goes to childcare in Vermont?
One infant in full-time care eats about 22.8% of the $79,000 median Vermont household income. Add the $1,450 median two-bedroom rent and childcare plus housing take roughly 44.8% of gross income — far above the 7% federal affordability benchmark.
Is childcare cheaper in Vermont than the rest of the US?
At $1,500 a month for infant care, Vermont is about 26% above the 50-state average of $1,188. Prices inside the state still vary widely: metro centers typically run 20–40% above rural counties.
States with similar childcare prices
- Childcare costs in Connecticut — $1,490/mo
- Childcare costs in Oregon — $1,475/mo
- Childcare costs in New Hampshire — $1,440/mo
- Childcare costs in Rhode Island — $1,410/mo
- Childcare costs in California — $1,630/mo
- Childcare costs in Colorado — $1,630/mo
All 50 states · Childcare costs by city · US childcare calculator