By CaraLynn Caulfield
Child care costs in New York are among the highest in the nation, putting a significant financial strain on both married and single-parent families, according to a recent report by WalletHub.
The survey, which ranked states by the affordability of child care, found that New York has the highest overall child care costs for married-couple families and ranks second-highest for single-parent households, trailing only the District of Columbia.
For married couples in New York, child care consumes 11.03% to 12.84% of household income depending on whether the care is family-based (in-home) or center-based. But for single parents, the financial burden is much heavier—38.42% to 44.71% of annual income goes toward child care.
The report offers context for why New York’s child care burden is especially high. While the state ranks 11th in median income for married couples at $140,449, it falls to 23rd for single-parent households, where the median income is just $40,315. This disparity leaves single parents with far less room to absorb rising child care costs.
The economic pressure is compounded by the fact that in 66.5% of U.S. families with children, both parents are employed, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. For most households—especially single-parent homes—child care is not a luxury but a necessity.
“It costs a lot of money to take care of a child’s needs, and many parents are left with the dilemma of whether to forgo one salary to do their own child care for the first few years or to shell out a significant chunk of their income for child care services,” said WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo.