The 10 most and 10 least expensive cities to own a home and pay for childcare

Childcare and housing costs can exceed 90% of a family's income in some metros. dusanpetkovic/Getty Images

Nationally, families spend 52% of their income on childcare and housing costs combined.

In some metros, that share exceeds 90%, while in others, it's below 50%.

In areas where paychecks are higher, costs are also often higher.

Buying a home already comes with plenty to consider, like price and location, but if you have children or plan to start a family, childcare should also be part of the equation.

Some parents pay upward of $45,000 a year in childcare , and while a lot of that has to do with the quality of childcare, a big part of the price also depends on where you're located.

Redfin, in partnership with childcare marketplace and data platform Winnie, calculated the share of income spent on childcare costs combined with housing costs across the 100 most populous metros.

Across the country, families spend 52% of their annual income on housing and childcare combined. In some cities on the list, that number is above 90%.

It may not be surprising that more expensive regions of the country charge higher childcare costs; however, in areas where  families are earning more , childcare costs remain taxing. In a city like San Jose, California, where the median household income is $176,401 — more than double the national median of $83,730 in 2024 — the share of income spent on childcare and housing is 83.1%.

" A high-paying job in San Francisco or Los Angeles can get wiped out fast once you factor for rent and day care, while a lower-paying job in a smaller metro might actually leave your family with more disposable income," Redfin's chief economist Daryl Fairweather told Business Insider. "Like anything else, it's ultimately a tradeoff and the decision should depend on your personal circumstances."

On the other hand, places where families spend the smallest share of their income on childcare aren't necessarily in places where homes are the cheapest .

"A cheap house doesn't always translate to a cheap life," Fairweather said. "We're seeing metros where housing is a steal, but childcare is eating up a big portion of the family budget, and vice versa in places like San Francisco. Families need to look at the whole picture before they decide where to plant roots."

Read on to see where childcare and housing costs take the smallest and biggest cuts of your paycheck.

Metros where childcare and housing consume the smallest share of family income

Sean Pavone/Getty Images

10. Dayton, OH

Dayton, Ohio. Sean Pavone/Getty Images

Share of income spent on childcare and housing combined: 43.8%

Median annual childcare cost: $13,788

Median annual housing cost: $20,459

Median annual household income: $78,105

9. Louisville, KY

Louisville, Kentucky. halbergman/Getty Images

Share of income spent on childcare and housing combined: 43.4%

Median annual childcare cost: $12,780

Median annual housing cost: $22,668

Median annual household income: $81,757

8. Tulsa, OK

Tulsa, Oklahoma. DenisTangneyJr/Getty Images

Share of income spent on childcare and housing combined: 43.3%

Median annual childcare cost: $10,860

Median annual housing cost: $21,879

Median annual household income: $75,570

7. Akron, OH

Akron, Ohio. Dee Liu/Getty Images

Share of income spent on childcare and housing combined: 43.2%

Median annual childcare cost: $13,896

Median annual housing cost: $20,133

Median annual household income: $78,753

6. Baton Rouge, LA

Baton Rouge, Louisiana. CRobertson/Getty Images

Share of income spent on childcare and housing combined: 42.5%

Median annual childcare cost: $10,968

Median annual housing cost: $21,639

Median annual household income: $76,675

5. St. Louis, MO

St. Louis. Art Wager/Getty Images

Share of income spent on childcare and housing combined: 42.2%

Median annual childcare cost: $13,872

Median annual housing cost: $23,552

Median annual household income: $88,593

4. Warren, MI

Roseville, Michigan, six miles east of Warren, Michigan. Hunter Souza/Getty Images

Share of income spent on childcare and housing combined: 42.2%

Median annual childcare cost: $13,548

Median annual housing cost: $27,239

Median annual household income: $96,676

3. Des Moines, IA

Des Moines, Iowa. Ultima_Gaina/Getty Images

Share of income spent on childcare and housing combined: 41.8%

Median annual childcare cost: $13,464

Median annual housing cost: $25,835

Median annual household income: $93,984

2. Oklahoma City, OK

Oklahoma City. RudyBalasko/Getty Images

Share of income spent on childcare and housing combined: 40.8%

Median annual childcare cost: $10,884

Median annual housing cost: $21,290

Median annual household income: $78,818

1. Little Rock, AR

Little Rock, Arkansas. Rdlamkin/Getty Images

Share of income spent on childcare and housing combined: 39.8%

Median annual childcare cost: $9,612

Median annual housing cost: $19,539

Median annual household income: $73,170

Metros where childcare and housing consume the biggest share of family income

Boarding1Now/Getty Images

10. Riverside, CA

Riverside, California. DianeBentleyRaymond/Getty Images

Share of income spent on childcare and housing combined: 71%

Median annual childcare cost: $22,680

Median annual housing cost: $46,277

Median annual household income: $97,116

9. Miami, FL

Miami. photosvit/Getty Images

Share of income spent on childcare and housing combined: 75.3%

Median annual childcare cost: $13,080

Median annual housing cost: $45,523

Median annual household income: $77,854

8. Springfield, MA

Springfield, Massachusetts. DenisTangneyJr/Getty Images

Share of income spent on childcare and housing combined: 75.3%

Median annual childcare cost: $26,340

Median annual housing cost: $35,200

Median annual household income: $81,734

7. Oxnard, CA

Oxnard, California. benedek/Getty Images

Share of income spent on childcare and housing combined: 77.1%

Median annual childcare cost: $22,668

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