How much does it cost to raise a child in 2026?
Childcare, private school and college costs are driving the total higher as families face a nearly 28% increase in three years, Hometap reports.
- Raising a child through age 18 now costs $303,418, the first time that figure has topped $300,000, representing a jump of nearly 28% in just three years.
- Families with children in school plan to spend $43.3 billion on back-to-school shopping this year, while daycare costs consume 10% of a two-parent household's median income, creating recurring financial pressure.
- Private nonprofit school tuition averages $45,000 annually; when housing, books, and other essentials are factored in, total estimated cost of attendance jumps to $65,470 per year.
- A survey of 1,000 homeowners found that a majority reported feeling moderately to extremely financially stressed, with rising costs cited as a top concern. Twenty percent of parents reported going into debt to afford childcare.
- Homeowners hold $34.9 trillion in home equity, prompting some families to explore alternatives like HELOCs to manage tuition and daycare bills without incurring monthly payments.
36 Articles
36 Articles
How much does it cost to raise a child in 2026? - The Mexico Ledger
How much does it cost to raise a child in 2026?Every fall brings the same rhythm: new backpacks, first-day-of-school photos, and a fresh round of expenses that seem to grow a little more each year. Whether it's packing lunches for a kindergartner, writing tuition checks for a college freshman, or somewhere in between, the cost of raising a child in the U.S. has reached a point that's reshaping how families budget, save, and plan, Hometap reports…
How much does it cost to raise a child in 2026? - Seward Independent
How much does it cost to raise a child in 2026?Every fall brings the same rhythm: new backpacks, first-day-of-school photos, and a fresh round of expenses that seem to grow a little more each year. Whether it's packing lunches for a kindergartner, writing tuition checks for a college freshman, or somewhere in between, the cost of raising a child in the U.S. has reached a point that's reshaping how families budget, save, and plan, Hometap reports…
How much does it cost to raise a child in 2026? - Hillsboro Sentry Enterprise
How much does it cost to raise a child in 2026?Every fall brings the same rhythm: new backpacks, first-day-of-school photos, and a fresh round of expenses that seem to grow a little more each year. Whether it's packing lunches for a kindergartner, writing tuition checks for a college freshman, or somewhere in between, the cost of raising a child in the U.S. has reached a point that's reshaping how families budget, save, and plan, Hometap reports…
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