What child care costs in New Hampshire, by town
Typical monthly prices from the 290 of New Hampshire’s 717 licensed programs that show a weekly or monthly price on the state’s search. Each figure is the middle price, so half the programs charge more and half charge less. For a program with several schedules, its longest schedule’s price counts.
By county
| County | Programs | Infant | Toddler | Preschool | School age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belknap | 33 | $1,441 | $1,289 | $1,105 | $793 |
| Carroll | 26 | — | — | $819 | — |
| Cheshire | 38 | $1,398 | $1,343 | $1,237 | $498 |
| Coos | 14 | — | — | — | — |
| Grafton | 49 | $1,732 | $1,596 | $1,105 | $830 |
| Hillsborough | 198 | $1,491 | $1,387 | $1,296 | $808 |
| Merrimack | 97 | $1,538 | $1,387 | $1,246 | $793 |
| Rockingham | 173 | $1,684 | $1,560 | $1,404 | $681 |
| Strafford | 65 | $1,495 | $1,408 | $1,352 | $596 |
| Sullivan | 24 | $1,149 | $1,159 | $1,073 | $793 |
By town
The 28 towns where at least 3 programs list a price for an age group. Tap a town to see every program and its listed prices.
| Town | Infant | Toddler | Preschool | School age |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barrington | — | — | $1,517 | — |
| Bedford | $1,679 | $1,582 | $1,354 | — |
| Belmont | — | $1,300 | — | — |
| Bow | — | $1,452 | — | — |
| Claremont | — | $1,083 | $975 | — |
| Concord | $1,582 | $1,452 | $1,278 | $793 |
| Derry | $1,716 | $1,662 | $1,413 | — |
| Dover | $1,408 | $1,391 | $1,348 | — |
| Durham | — | $1,785 | $1,733 | — |
| Exeter | $2,167 | $1,690 | $1,517 | — |
| Goffstown | $1,408 | $1,408 | $1,387 | $507 |
| Hanover | $1,907 | $1,850 | $1,556 | — |
| Hooksett | $1,538 | $1,452 | $1,268 | $1,062 |
| Hudson | $975 | $975 | $975 | — |
| Keene | $1,365 | $1,343 | $1,235 | — |
| Laconia | $1,430 | — | — | $793 |
| Lebanon | $1,789 | $1,596 | $1,451 | $350 |
| Londonderry | $1,538 | $1,473 | $1,300 | $420 |
| Manchester | $1,491 | $1,381 | $1,300 | $464 |
| Merrimack | $1,668 | $1,517 | $1,361 | $823 |
| Milford | — | $1,278 | $1,235 | — |
| Nashua | $1,461 | $1,408 | $1,213 | $758 |
| Plaistow | $1,668 | $1,569 | $1,315 | — |
| Portsmouth | $1,803 | $1,736 | $1,591 | $1,040 |
| Rochester | $1,515 | $1,385 | $1,235 | $780 |
| Salem | $1,733 | $1,625 | $1,462 | — |
| Somersworth | $1,495 | $1,417 | $1,365 | $420 |
| Windham | — | — | $1,655 | — |
How we calculated this
- Prices come from the rates programs list on NH Child Care Search, retrieved Nov 1, 2026. Many programs don’t list prices, and listed prices can be out of date.
- Weekly prices are converted to monthly (× 52 ÷ 12). Hourly and daily prices aren’t included.
- A price counts only for age groups the program is licensed to serve, and a typical price is shown only when at least 3 programs list one.
- School-age prices are often for before- and after-school care, not full days.
Questions
How much does child care cost in New Hampshire?
Based on the weekly and monthly prices programs list with the state (as of Nov 1, 2026), typical prices are about $1,517 a month for infant care, $1,387 a month for toddler care and $1,278 a month for preschool care. Prices vary a lot by town and program.
Why is infant care the most expensive?
Babies need more teachers per child than any other age group, so each infant spot costs a program more to staff.
Is there help paying for child care in New Hampshire?
Yes. The NH Child Care Scholarship pays part of the cost for eligible families at programs that accept it. Income limits depend on household size.
From NH Child Care Search (New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services), retrieved Nov 1, 2026. Programs supply and maintain some of this information themselves, and the state does not verify it. Always confirm details with the program.