Daycare in Pennsylvania
What daycare costs in each Pennsylvania county, how to get help paying, and every licensed program on the state's list, city by city.
Short answer
Source: Pennsylvania Department of Human Services, Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL), as of October 2026. Child care centers, group child care homes and family child care homes that OCDEL lists as open and certified at the end of the month. Pre-K Counts, Head Start and other early learning sites without a child care certificate are not included. Pennsylvania doesn't publish the ages each program serves in this dataset. Openings change daily, so call first.
Help paying in Pennsylvania
Child Care Works, run by Pennsylvania Department of Human Services, Office of Child Development and Early Learning
$54,640a year or less for a family of three to start (200% of the federal poverty level), as of May 2026. You also need to work, study or train.
Copays are capped at 7% of income (May 2025).
How to applySources: Pennsylvania Department of Human Services; National Women's Law Center
Daycare by city in Pennsylvania
242 cities have 5 or more licensed programs and a page of their own, most programs first. Another 1,031 licensed programs are in 554 smaller towns; find them through the state's search below.
- Philadelphia1,668
- Pittsburgh328
- Allentown256
- Lancaster114
- Harrisburg109
- Erie100
- Reading98
- York71
- Lebanon57
- Bethlehem49
- Easton45
- Upper Darby45
- West Chester41
- Chambersburg34
- Chester33
- Pottstown32
- Mechanicsburg31
- Norristown31
- State College30
- Hazleton29
- Carlisle28
- Coatesville27
- Scranton27
- Lansdale26
- Levittown26
- Altoona25
- Canonsburg25
- Downingtown25
- Doylestown24
- Drexel Hill24
- Johnstown24
- Camp Hill22
- Darby22
- East Stroudsburg22
- Homestead22
- Williamsport22
- New Castle21
- Royersford21
- Whitehall21
- Irwin20
- Wilkes Barre20
- Aliquippa19
- Bensalem19
- Monroeville19
- Collegeville18
- Greensburg18
- King of Prussia18
- Phoenixville18
- Cranberry Township17
- Exton17
- Havertown17
- Lansdowne17
- Southampton17
- Meadville16
- Newtown16
- Wayne16
- Ambler15
- Butler15
- Coraopolis15
- Feasterville Trevose15
- Langhorne15
- Lititz15
- Media15
- Quakertown15
- Uniontown15
- Blue Bell14
- Glenside14
- Hanover14
- Mc Kees Rocks14
- McKeesport14
- North Wales14
- Warrington14
- Willow Grove14
- Abington13
- Allison Park13
- Bloomsburg13
- Bridgeville13
- Fairless Hills13
- Gibsonia13
- Malvern13
- Sewickley13
- Springfield13
- Ephrata12
- Somerset12
- Verona12
- Warminster12
- Waynesboro12
- Bellefonte11
- Bethel Park11
- Harleysville11
- Hazle Township11
- Kennett Square11
- Kingston11
- Middletown11
- Nazareth11
- Oxford11
- Washington11
- West Grove11
- West Norriton11
- Beaver Falls10
- Brookhaven10
- Broomall10
- Clairton10
- Conshohocken10
- Danville10
- Dover10
- Duquesne10
- Elizabethtown10
- Fort Washington10
- Hatboro10
- Hermitage10
- Hershey10
- Horsham10
- Indiana10
- New Kensington10
- Newtown Square10
- West Hazleton10
- Ardmore9
- Braddock9
- Bristol9
- Clifton Heights9
- Devon9
- Dillsburg9
- Gettysburg9
- Kittanning9
- Morrisville9
- New Cumberland9
- Sellersville9
- Sharon Hill9
- Stroudsburg9
- Tamaqua9
- Wexford9
- Yardley9
- Bala Cynwyd8
- Carnegie8
- Elkins Park8
- Farrell8
- Gilbertsville8
- Glen Mills8
- Greencastle8
- Huntingdon8
- Jenkintown8
- Jersey Shore8
- Lehighton8
- Mars8
- New Oxford8
- Oakdale8
- South Park8
- Sunbury8
- Warren8
- Wynnewood8
- Berwick7
- Boyertown7
- Center Valley7
- Chalfont7
- Columbia7
- Connellsville7
- Douglassville7
- Ebensburg7
- Etters7
- Fairfield7
- Franklin7
- Hollidaysburg7
- Huntingdon Valley7
- Lewisburg7
- Lewistown7
- Lock Haven7
- Macungie7
- Murrysville7
- Pittston7
- Plymouth Meeting7
- Red Lion7
- Ridgway7
- Sarver7
- Sayre7
- Selinsgrove7
- Sharon7
- Souderton7
- Wallingford7
- Wellsboro7
- West Mifflin7
- Aston6
- Breinigsville6
- Catasauqua6
- Chester Springs6
- Curwensville6
- Du Bois6
- Enola6
- Grove City6
- Honesdale6
- Hummelstown6
- Jeannette6
- Milton6
- Mountain Top6
- Palmerton6
- Perkasie6
- Philipsburg6
- Pottsville6
- Quarryville6
- Richboro6
- Schuylkill Haven6
- Tobyhanna6
- Upper Chichester6
- Bangor5
- Bradford5
- Bryn Mawr5
- Carbondale5
- Chadds Ford5
- Claysburg5
- Croydon5
- Dresher5
- Dunmore5
- Ellwood City5
- Emmaus5
- Exeter5
- Fleetwood5
- Ford City5
- Hamburg5
- Hanover Township5
- Hatfield5
- Jamison5
- Lake Ariel5
- Lake City5
- Latrobe5
- Littlestown5
- Marietta5
- Milford5
- Montoursville5
- Moosic5
- Mount Joy5
- Narberth5
- Newport5
- North Versailles5
- Pen Argyl5
- Shavertown5
- Shippensburg5
- Shrewsbury5
- Spring City5
- Stewartstown5
- Tarentum5
- Tyrone5
- Zelienople5
What does daycare cost in each Pennsylvania county?
Weekly full-time prices in 2020. Center infant care runs from $124 in Somerset County to $304 in Chester County. Prices aren't adjusted for inflation, so today's rates are likely higher.
| County | Infant | Toddler | Preschool | Infant, home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adams County | $213 | $201 | $175 | $123 |
| Allegheny County | $218 | $206 | $193 | $165 |
| Armstrong County | $175 | $165 | $165 | $175 |
| Beaver County | $185 | $180 | $175 | $200 |
| Bedford County | $141 | $140 | $131 | $125 |
| Berks County | $215 | $195 | $180 | $180 |
| Blair County | $155 | $155 | $161 | $123 |
| Bradford County | $186 | $178 | $158 | $153 |
| Bucks County | $276 | $245 | $226 | $165 |
| Butler County | $214 | $195 | $189 | $155 |
| Cambria County | $131 | $125 | $125 | $125 |
| Cameron County | $161 | $145 | $130 | $125 |
| Carbon County | $143 | $130 | $133 | $125 |
| Centre County | $240 | $241 | $225 | $120 |
| Chester County | $304 | $274 | $237 | $210 |
| Clarion County | $155 | $160 | $141 | $143 |
| Clearfield County | $155 | $160 | $141 | $121 |
| Clinton County | $162 | $145 | $125 | $123 |
| Columbia County | $154 | $151 | $140 | $123 |
| Crawford County | $185 | $180 | $153 | $173 |
| Cumberland County | $241 | $200 | $201 | $160 |
| Dauphin County | $228 | $198 | $165 | $165 |
| Delaware County | $231 | $206 | $205 | $190 |
| Elk County | $161 | $145 | $130 | $123 |
| Erie County | $200 | $185 | $165 | $155 |
| Fayette County | $175 | $175 | $165 | $170 |
| Forest County | $155 | $160 | $141 | $140 |
| Franklin County | $165 | $152 | $150 | $135 |
| Fulton County | $141 | $140 | $131 | $125 |
| Greene County | $180 | $175 | $170 | $193 |
| Huntingdon County | $141 | $140 | $131 | $119 |
| Indiana County | $204 | $180 | $179 | $145 |
| Jefferson County | $155 | $160 | $141 | $140 |
| Juniata County | $220 | $200 | $171 | $126 |
| Lackawanna County | $214 | $188 | $168 | $180 |
| Lancaster County | $270 | $223 | $196 | $150 |
| Lawrence County | $200 | $203 | $180 | $180 |
| Lebanon County | $187 | $182 | $182 | $170 |
| Lehigh County | $190 | $178 | $170 | $170 |
| Luzerne County | $195 | $165 | $155 | $148 |
| Lycoming County | $162 | $142 | $115 | $125 |
| McKean County | $161 | $145 | $130 | $123 |
| Mercer County | $250 | $220 | $176 | $193 |
| Mifflin County | $194 | $179 | $165 | $126 |
| Monroe County | $180 | $160 | $150 | $175 |
| Montgomery County | $299 | $262 | $245 | $210 |
| Montour County | $154 | $151 | $154 | $105 |
| Northampton County | $204 | $188 | $172 | $155 |
| Northumberland County | $144 | $141 | $135 | $138 |
| Perry County | $223 | $215 | $185 | $125 |
| Philadelphia County | $235 | $205 | $195 | $190 |
| Pike County | $184 | $165 | $160 | $175 |
| Potter County | $162 | $145 | $125 | $128 |
| Schuylkill County | $143 | $130 | $135 | $138 |
| Snyder County | $154 | $151 | $154 | $123 |
| Somerset County | $124 | $110 | $110 | $115 |
| Sullivan County | $216 | $200 | $180 | $155 |
| Susquehanna County | $205 | $200 | $185 | $153 |
| Tioga County | $163 | $145 | $135 | $125 |
| Union County | $154 | $151 | $154 | $123 |
| Venango County | $185 | $189 | $165 | $158 |
| Warren County | $161 | $145 | $130 | $123 |
| Washington County | $220 | $205 | $200 | $205 |
| Wayne County | $205 | $156 | $149 | $175 |
| Westmoreland County | $205 | $190 | $180 | $170 |
| Wyoming County | $193 | $185 | $165 | $153 |
| York County | $201 | $193 | $179 | $138 |
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, National Database of Childcare Prices. Data as of 2020 prices.
Look up your county to see a year's cost for each age, or read how much childcare costs for nannies and other options.
Help paying for daycare in Pennsylvania
Three ways to bring the bill down. You can use more than one.
1. Child Care Works
The state's child care subsidy, run by Pennsylvania Department of Human Services, Office of Child Development and Early Learning. A family of three qualifies at up to $54,640 a year to start. You pay a copay and the state pays the rest to the provider you pick. In Pennsylvania, a provider whose price is above the state's payment can charge you the difference, so ask first.
2. Head Start and Early Head Start
Free for families at or below the poverty line, or on TANF or SSI. 814 centers in Pennsylvania; 260 take babies and toddlers.
3. Tax breaks
For 2026, a dependent care FSA through your employer can shelter up to $7,500 of child care costs from tax, and the Child and Dependent Care Credit pays up to 50% of up to $3,000 in expenses for one child or $6,000 for two or more. The same dollars can't count for both.
How to check a daycare's license in Pennsylvania
Every licensed program has a state record with its license, the ages and number of children it's licensed for, and its inspection history. Look a program up before you tour it, and again before you sign.
- Find and check child care in Pennsylvania on Childcare.gov, with links to the state's search, licensing rules and inspection reports.
- Pennsylvania's own child care search
Daycare in Pennsylvania: common questions
How much does daycare cost in Pennsylvania?
Full-time infant care at a Pennsylvania child care center has a median price of $218 a week, about $11,331 a year; at a family child care home it's $165 a week. These are 2020 prices from the U.S. Department of Labor's National Database of Childcare Prices, not adjusted for inflation, so expect to pay more today. Prices for toddlers and preschoolers are lower, and they vary by county.
How do I get help paying for daycare in Pennsylvania?
Apply to Child Care Works, run by Pennsylvania Department of Human Services, Office of Child Development and Early Learning. A family of three can earn up to $54,640 a year to start (as of May 2026). Parents generally need to be working, in school or in job training. You pay a copay based on income, and the state pays the rest to the provider you choose.
Is there free daycare in Pennsylvania?
Head Start and Early Head Start are free for families who qualify. The Office of Head Start lists 814 centers in Pennsylvania; 260 serve babies and toddlers (Early Head Start) and 626 offer preschool for ages 3 to 5. You qualify with income at or below the federal poverty line, or at any income if you get TANF or SSI, your child is in foster care, or your family is homeless.
How do I check that a daycare is licensed in Pennsylvania?
Look the program up in Pennsylvania's child care search before you visit. Childcare.gov's Pennsylvania page links to the state's search, its licensing rules and its inspection reports. The programs listed on our Pennsylvania city pages come from the state's own licensing list and show each license number.
What's the difference between a daycare center and a family child care home?
A center runs in a commercial or school building with several classrooms and staff. A family child care home is licensed care in the provider's own home, usually for a smaller group of mixed ages, and in Pennsylvania it costs a median $165 a week for an infant against $218 at a center. Both are licensed and inspected by the state.
Are there tax breaks for daycare?
For 2026, a dependent care FSA through your employer can shelter up to $7,500 of child care costs from tax, and the Child and Dependent Care Credit pays up to 50% of up to $3,000 in expenses for one child or $6,000 for two or more. The same dollars can't count for both.
Daycare in nearby states
Other benefits in Pennsylvania
Having a baby in Pennsylvania Benefits, each with its source, checked October 2026 Pregnancy Medicaid Up to 220% FPL WIC Yes Paid family leave No Medicaid pays for a doula Yes See PennsylvaniaGear for daycare days
Sources
- 1.Child Care Providers including Early Learning Programs Listing Current Monthly Facility County Human Services Pennsylvania Department of Human Services, Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL). Accessed October 16, 2026.
- 2.National Database of Childcare Prices: 2008-2022 (Data File) U.S. Department of Labor, Women's Bureau. Accessed October 9, 2026.
- 3.National Database of Childcare Prices Technical Report (September 2024) U.S. Department of Labor, Women's Bureau. Accessed October 9, 2026.
- 4.National Database of Childcare Prices: State-Level Estimates and Affordability Rankings 2022 U.S. Department of Labor, Women's Bureau. Accessed October 9, 2026.
- 5.National Database of Childcare Prices U.S. Department of Labor, Women's Bureau. Accessed October 9, 2026.
- 6.Child Care Works (CCW) Pennsylvania Department of Human Services. Accessed October 9, 2026.
- 7.Pennsylvania: Financial Assistance Resources for Families (last reviewed 2026-09-18) Childcare.gov (Administration for Children and Families). Accessed October 9, 2026.
- 8.Warning Signs: State Child Care Assistance Policies 2025 National Women's Law Center. Accessed October 9, 2026.
- 9.CCDF Family Co-Payments by State (January 2025) Administration for Children and Families, Office of Child Care. Accessed October 9, 2026.
- 10.42 U.S. Code 9858n, Definitions (Child Care and Development Block Grant Act) Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School (U.S. Code). Accessed October 9, 2026.
- 11.Understanding and finding child care in Pennsylvania Childcare.gov (Administration for Children and Families). Accessed October 16, 2026.