Daycare Cost in Tarrant County, TX

Childcare in Tarrant County, TX

Tarrant County, home to Fort Worth and Arlington, has a population of 2.1 million and represents the western half of the DFW metroplex. The county's economy is anchored by Lockheed Martin's F-35 production facility, American Airlines' headquarters, the University of North Texas Health Science Center, and the massive logistics and distribution sector along the I-20/I-30 corridors. Infant care averages around $10,348 per year, slightly above the Texas average, with higher costs concentrated in the Southlake, Colleyville, and North Fort Worth areas. Tarrant County has a strong military connection through Naval Air Station Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base, adding military family childcare needs to the mix.

Finding Care

Fort Worth's urban core and the mid-cities area (Arlington, Bedford, Euless, Hurst) have the densest childcare provider networks, with a solid mix of center-based and faith-based programs. Rapidly growing suburban areas in far north Fort Worth, Haslet, and Mansfield are experiencing childcare supply crunches as residential development outpaces provider openings. Texas Rising Star-rated programs are available throughout the county, but infant slots at quality-rated centers carry the longest waitlists, typically 3–6 months.

Local Resources

Child Care Associates serves as Tarrant County's primary CCR&R and childcare subsidy administrator, contracted through Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County. The organization also operates dozens of its own Head Start and Early Head Start classrooms across the county. The United Way of Tarrant County supports childcare quality initiatives and school readiness programs, while the Tarrant County College Early Childhood Education department provides a pipeline of trained childcare workers to the local market.