Cradle & Care

Childcare in New York

What we can tell you about childcare in New York

Coverage is not the same in every state, so this page says plainly what we hold for New York and what we do not. No email, no account.

Free childcare — 580 locations

Head Start is federally funded and free to families who qualify. New York has 580 locations holding 30,699 funded places. Income is the main test, but children in foster care, experiencing homelessness, or whose family receives public assistance qualify regardless of income.

Find your nearest by ZIP

What paid care costs

Across 62 New York counties, the median price for infant care at a center was $247 a week. Most counties fall between $247 and $300.

4 years out of date. This price is from 2022 and is 4 years out of date. It is the most recent county-level figure the federal government publishes, and childcare has risen faster than general inflation since — treat it as a floor, not a quote.

Licensing and inspection records

We do not have licensing records for New York, and we would rather say so than show you a thinner version and let it pass for the same thing. We surveyed the states publishing childcare data and only Texas puts inspection findings, deficiencies and enforcement in one queryable place. New York’s licensing agency will hold its own records — that is the place to look for a specific provider’s history.

Somewhere else?

Every state and territory has a page.

Sources: U.S. Office of Head Start service locations; U.S. Department of Labor Women’s Bureau National Database of Childcare Prices, 2022 median study year; Texas HHS child-care licensing (Texas only). Listing is not endorsement.