Daycare Cost in Denver County, CO

Childcare in Denver County, CO

Denver County, coextensive with the city of Denver, is home to 710,000 residents and serves as the economic and cultural hub of the Rocky Mountain region. Major employers include the state government, DaVita, Lockheed Martin Space, Western Union, and a vibrant startup and tech scene concentrated in the RiNo and LoDo districts. Infant care averages an extremely high $22,357 per year, making Denver one of the most expensive childcare markets in the country outside of the coasts. The city's rapid gentrification and population growth over the past decade has reshaped neighborhoods, and young professionals starting families face sticker shock at childcare costs that rival or exceed their housing expenses.

Finding Care

Central Denver neighborhoods like Cherry Creek, Washington Park, and Park Hill have the highest density of quality childcare centers, but waitlists of 6–12 months for infant care are standard. The Highlands and Sloan's Lake areas have seen new center openings to serve the influx of young families, though supply still falls short. Southwest Denver and Montbello have fewer quality-rated options, and these communities — which are more racially diverse and lower-income than the city's core — face childcare desert conditions that exacerbate economic inequality.

Local Resources

Denver's Department of Early Childhood, created in 2022, consolidated the city's early childhood programs and now oversees the Denver Preschool Program (DPP), which provides tuition credits for all Denver four-year-olds at participating providers. Mile High United Way's 211 service provides childcare referrals, and the Colorado Shines quality rating system rates providers on a scale of 1–5. Denver Head Start, operated by Denver Great Kids Head Start, maintains sites across the city with priority for low-income families. The Denver Early Childhood Council coordinates quality improvement and advocacy efforts.