Unbiased AI-powered news
A LendingTree study reports the average cost of raising a child in the U.S. for 18 years at $303,418, up 1.9% from the previous year. Costs vary by state, with Hawaii at $412,661 and New Hampshire at $201,963. Childcare represents the largest expense, averaging $28,190 annually.
Substrate placeholder — needs reviewU.S. over 18 years at $303,418. 9% increase from the previous year, driven by rises in rent and clothing costs. The total varies significantly by location. Hawaii has the highest projected cost at $412,661, followed by Alaska at $365,047 and Maryland at $326,360.
New Hampshire records the lowest at $201,963. Washington, D.C. and South Carolina follow as the next least expensive locations. Rent costs have increased from $1,128 in the 2025 LendingTree survey to $1,680 in 2026, a nearly 50% rise.
Clothing costs have risen by more than 25% over the past year. These changes contribute to the overall increase in child-rearing expenses.
some states, costs have grown faster than the national average.
The study found that Kansas and Alaska’s projected 18-year child-rearing costs jumped 23.5% between LendingTree’s 2025 and 2026 analyses, and Montana increased by 21.7%. Childcare is the largest expense for families with children under 5. In Hawaii, annual childcare costs average $40,342, while Maryland and Massachusetts average $36,419 and $34,247, respectively.
Fourteen states saw the cost of raising a small child increase by at least 10%. Sparsely populated states such as Nebraska, Montana, and Wisconsin all saw early childrearing cost jump by at least 23% due to the lack of options and high demand.
guidelines consider childcare affordable if it accounts for no more than 7% of household income.
With average annual childcare costs at $28,190, a household would need to earn $402,708 for affordability. The average income for a two-child household is $145,656. A February survey by the National Association for the Education of Young Children found that 65% of childcare centers and 51% of public-school-based programs increased tuition.
Nearly one-third of home-based providers also raised rates. High childcare costs can affect families' ability to save for emergencies, college, or retirement. S.
TankerTrackers data shows 36 million barrels shipped and another 36 million still at sea. Iranian officials separately reported 25 million barrels crossing the blockade line since Monday.
ForbesUFC CEO Dana White stated that negotiations for a cage fight between Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg were genuine and included discussions about holding the event at Rome's Colosseum. White said the venue requested an estimated $150 million, which would have gone toward restoring o…
winnipegfreepress.comProtesters gathered in front of Czech public television offices one day before staff planned a warning strike. The government approved the overhaul on Monday.