Daycare Cost in Arapahoe County, CO

Childcare in Arapahoe County, CO

Arapahoe County, spanning Denver's southern suburbs, is home to 660,000 residents in communities ranging from affluent Greenwood Village and Cherry Hills Village to the more economically diverse Englewood, Sheridan, and Aurora's southern sections. The county's economy is driven by the Denver Tech Center (DTC), home to hundreds of corporate offices, alongside healthcare (Children's Hospital Colorado in Aurora), Buckley Space Force Base, and the University of Denver's presence. Infant care averages around $17,556 per year, high for a suburban county and reflecting the DTC corridor's professional workforce. The county's eastern reaches include portions of Aurora with large Ethiopian, Eritrean, and Korean communities that create demand for culturally specific childcare.

Finding Care

The DTC/Greenwood Village corridor and Centennial have the highest concentration of quality childcare centers, many positioned to serve commuter parents working in the tech center's office complexes. Littleton and Englewood have established but smaller childcare markets with a mix of centers and family childcare homes. Eastern Arapahoe County (Aurora portions, Bennett) has fewer licensed providers relative to its growing population, and families in these areas face longer commutes to quality-rated care. Colorado Shines rates providers throughout the county.

Local Resources

Arapahoe County Department of Human Services helps families navigate the Colorado Child Care Assistance Program (CCCAP) and provides referrals. Mile High United Way's 211 service connects families with available openings across the metro area. Arapahoe County Head Start and Early Head Start, operated by Community Development Institute (CDI), maintain sites in Aurora, Englewood, and Sheridan. The Arapahoe/Douglas Works! workforce center also assists families with childcare-related employment support.