Daycare Cost in Bergen County, NJ
Childcare pricing data for Bergen County, New Jersey (2022). Population: 953,243.
Compared to New Jersey Average
Center-based infant care in Bergen County costs $16,521/year, which is $788 more (5% above average) compared to the New Jersey average of $15,733/year.
All Childcare Prices
| Care Type | Weekly | Annual (52 weeks) |
|---|---|---|
| Center-Based Infant | $318/week | $16,521 |
| Center-Based Toddler | $310/week | $16,124 |
| Center-Based Preschool | $310/week | $16,124 |
| Family Infant | $201/week | $10,435 |
| Family Toddler | $205/week | $10,664 |
| Family Preschool | $192/week | $9,968 |
Affordability Context
The median household income in Bergen County is $118,714. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services considers childcare affordable when it costs no more than 7% of household income. At 14%, center-based infant care in Bergen County exceeds this threshold.
Childcare in Bergen County, NJ
Bergen County, in northeastern New Jersey, is home to 960,000 residents in over 70 municipalities, making it the most populous county in New Jersey. The county serves as a major bedroom community for Manhattan, with excellent commuter rail and bus connections across the George Washington Bridge. Major employers include Becton Dickinson (BD) in Franklin Lakes, Unilever's U.S. headquarters, and the healthcare and pharmaceutical sectors. Infant care averages around $15,600 per year, reflecting the high cost of living in the New York metro area. Bergen County's remarkable ethnic diversity — with large Korean, Indian, Filipino, and Latino communities concentrated in towns like Fort Lee, Palisades Park, Hackensack, and Bergenfield — shapes a childcare market with distinctly multilingual and cultural character.
Finding Care
Towns along the Route 4 and Route 17 corridors (Paramus, Hackensack, Ridgewood) have the densest childcare center networks. Fort Lee and the Gold Coast communities near the George Washington Bridge have seen growth in center-based care as residential development has increased. The northern and western portions of the county (Mahwah, Ramsey, Woodcliff Lake) have more limited options with a suburban, family-childcare-focused market. New Jersey's Grow NJ Kids quality rating system is active in Bergen County, though participation remains voluntary.
Local Resources
Bergen County's Division of Family Guidance and the New Jersey Child Care Resource and Referral Agency provide referrals and subsidy information through New Jersey's Child Care Assistance program. Bergen County Head Start, operated by the Bergen County Community Action Partnership, maintains sites in Hackensack, Englewood, and other communities with the greatest need. The Bergen County United Way supports early childhood initiatives, and the Korean Community Service Center of Greater New York provides culturally specific family support for the county's large Korean-American community.
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Other Counties in New Jersey
Counties with similar daycare costs to Bergen County.
| County | Center Infant (yr) | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| Monmouth County | $16,352 | $169 less |
| Middlesex County | $16,325 | $196 less |
| Ocean County | $16,314 | $207 less |
| Hudson County | $16,758 | +$237 |
| Somerset County | $16,928 | +$407 |