Idaho one of 33 states where child care costs more than college

Child care in Idaho costs more than a year of in-state tuition at a public college, according to the Economic Policy Institute.

For an infant or a 4-year-old child, as much as a third of the average Idaho family’s income is earmarked for child care, according to research by the advocacy group Child Care Aware of America.

“According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), child care is affordable if it costs no more than 10 percent of a family’s income,” the Economic Policy Institute said in a report on child care costs. “By this standard, only 37.5 percent of Idaho families can afford infant care.”

How much do you spend on child care? Have you searched for affordable child care in the Boise area? What child care decisions have you made due to cost?

We want to hear from you. Contact reporter Audrey Dutton at (208) 377-6448 or adutton@idahostatesman.com.

This story was originally published August 3, 2016 at 12:44 PM with the headline "Idaho one of 33 states where child care costs more than college."