A new analysis from NHFPI's Dow Drukker finds that New Hampshire's expanded Child Care Scholarship Program has helped thousands of low and moderate income Granite State families afford child care, but several structural challenges, including a shrinking supply of providers, staffing shortages, and funding constraints could make it harder to meet growing demand.
A new NHFPI study finds that child care remains a significant financial challenge for many Granite State families. The analysis found that the average annual price of center-based care for an infant and a four-year-old reached nearly $30,000 in 2025, up from about $22,500 in 2017, while the number of licensed child care providers statewide declined by 120 programs.
The price of child care in New Hampshire continued to rise in 2025 while the number of providers declined, placing growing financial pressure on Granite State families seeking affordable, high-quality care for their children, according to a new analysis from the New Hampshire Fiscal Policy Institute.
At NHFPI, we spend a lot of time examining New Hampshire’s challenges. But the data tell positive stories, too. In honor of 603 Day, we're highlighting five encouraging trends shaping the Granite State, from slowing housing price increases and declining drug-related deaths to growing freshman enrollment at UNH and improvements to roads, bridges, and child poverty.
Each month, NHFPI’s research team shares a curated list of books, research papers, podcasts, and more that are helping to shape our understanding of the economic wellbeing of the Granite State and beyond. Here are our picks for May 2026.
A new analysis from NHFPI’s Dow Drukker looks at recent changes to federal child tax credits and child care tax breaks and what they mean for Granite State families. While some families may see slightly larger credits, many lower-income households will see little or no additional help because of how the credits are structured.
