Columbus has 150 home-based providers in the directory, about 21% of the local market. Home daycares can be a strong fit for parents who want smaller group sizes, but the inspection history still matters just as much as it does for centers.

31%

A or B safety grades

150

Home providers tracked

Accredited or Head Start providers

$979/mo

Infant center cost in FRANKLIN

Market Notes

The current top-scoring provider in this city is DEVONSHIRE ALTERNATIVE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL with a A grade and a 100.0 score.

Common provider types in Columbus include Licensed Child Care Center, Licensed Type B Family Child Care Home, Licensed School-Based Preschool.

The average provider in this market has 27.5 recorded violations, while 80 providers currently show none in the data we track.

Local cost and care context

FRANKLIN accounts for the largest share of providers we track in Columbus, so its pricing is the best local benchmark on this page.

Infant Center

$979/mo

Preschool Center

$736/mo

Toddler Home Daycare

$661/mo

How to use this page

Home daycare pages use the same inspection-based scoring model as center pages.

Smaller capacity does not automatically mean safer care; the record still needs to support it.

Compare home providers against the broader city listing if you want to trade off price, size, and violation history.

Read the full scoring methodology

Frequently asked questions about daycare in Columbus

What is the difference between home daycare and daycare centers in Columbus?

Columbus currently shows 150 home-based providers and 548 center-based options in the directory. Home daycares usually mean smaller group sizes and a residential setting, while centers often provide more staff depth and classroom separation by age.

Are home daycares regulated and inspected in Ohio?

Yes, licensed home daycares should still have an inspection record. Use each provider page to review violations, correction patterns, and recent inspection activity before enrolling.

Is home daycare usually cheaper than a center in Columbus?

Often, yes, but not always. Home daycare can be more affordable because providers run smaller operations with lower overhead. Use the local cost context on this page as a benchmark, then compare quotes provider by provider because tuition can vary a lot even within the same city.