Daycare Cost in Dallas County, TX

Childcare in Dallas County, TX

Dallas County sits at the heart of the DFW metroplex with a population of 2.6 million, anchored by the city of Dallas and surrounding communities like Irving, Grand Prairie, and Mesquite. Major employers including AT&T, Texas Instruments, Southwest Airlines, and the region's massive healthcare sector generate strong demand for childcare. Infant care averages around $10,088 per year, competitive by national standards but a meaningful expense for the county's many moderate-income families. Dallas County's population is majority-minority, with large Hispanic and Black communities shaping a childcare market that values bilingual and culturally responsive programs.

Finding Care

Dallas proper has a robust supply of childcare centers, particularly in the Uptown, North Dallas, and Preston Hollow areas where professional families concentrate. Southern Dallas and parts of South Irving face childcare desert conditions, with fewer licensed providers per capita and longer commutes to quality-rated programs. The Texas Rising Star quality rating system helps families identify higher-quality providers, and Dallas County has hundreds of participating programs, though star-rated supply remains tight for infant and toddler care.

Local Resources

Child Care Group, one of the largest nonprofits of its kind in Texas, serves as a primary CCR&R for Dallas County, providing referrals, quality coaching, and operating dozens of its own childcare sites. Dallas County Head Start is operated through several delegate agencies including the Dallas Independent School District and Community Council of Greater Dallas. Workforce Solutions Greater Dallas administers childcare subsidies through the Texas Workforce Commission, and the city of Dallas Office of Community Care provides additional local childcare quality and access initiatives.