Market intelligence · Baltimore, MD

Baltimore childcare real estate: values, cap rates & market data.

Q: Can I sell my center without my staff or competitors finding out?

Yes. Little Scholars runs confidential sale processes — buyers are qualified and sign NDAs before any identifying information about your center is shared.

What childcare centers and daycare properties are worth in the Baltimore market — grounded in our own sold-comps database, our 2025 tuition survey, and U.S. Census data.

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165,329

Children under 5 in the Baltimore metro (2023)

+1.7%

Population change, 2018–2023

$97,300

Median household income — above the U.S. national median

−1.7%

Change in under-5 population, 2018–2023

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2018 & 2023), Baltimore–Columbia–Towson, MD Metro Area.

Baltimore, MD childcare market — key figures

The median childcare real estate cap rate in Maryland is 6.9%, based on 6 of 7 sold childcare transactions compiled by Little Scholars Real Estate, at a median sold price of $423 per square foot.

In the Baltimore, MD metro, 1 national-chain childcare centers surveyed in 2025 reported median monthly tuition of $2,719 for infants and $2,117 for preschool.

The Baltimore, MD metro has 165,329 children under age five and a median household income of $97,300; its population grew 1.7% and its under-five population declined 1.7% between 2018 and 2023.

Little Scholars Real Estate is a childcare-only business and real estate brokerage led by Alan Stahl, with 80 transactions closed across 18+ states.

Sources: Little Scholars Real Estate sold-comps database (592 childcare transactions across 41 states, updated June 2026); Little Scholars 2025 tuition survey, rates received directly from individual schools; U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2018 and 2023). Figures may be cited or republished with attribution to Little Scholars Real Estate (CC BY 4.0).

What this means for owners

High incomes, tight caps — Maryland's quiet premium.

The Baltimore metro's median household income reached $97,300 while its population and under-5 count both held nearly flat from 2018 to 2023.

Maryland comps trade at a 6.9% median cap and $423 per square foot — the highest per-square-foot pricing we track outside California. Our surveyed Howard County school charges $2,719 a month for infants; we're still surveying Baltimore-area schools.

2025 tuition rates · Baltimore market

Real rates from Baltimore-market schools.

Actual monthly tuition rates our team received from national-chain schools in this market during our 2025 survey — not averages. Tuition drives revenue, and revenue drives value.

Brand	Location	Infant / mo	Pre-K / mo	Licensed capacity
Childtime	Ellicott City (Montgomery Rd)	$2,719	$2,117	—

Disclosure: these rates and enrollment figures were manually received by our team, directly from each school, during our 2025 survey. Only schools that shared rates are shown; figures may have changed since. Medians are computed across the schools shown; median occupancy uses only schools that reported exact enrollment. Licensed capacity per state licensing records. Source: Little Scholars 2025 brand rate survey.

Cap rates & valuation context

What childcare properties trade at in Maryland.

Across our sold-comps database, Maryland childcare properties have typically traded at 6.8–7.3% cap rates, at a median of $423 per square foot, across 7 sales. Where your property lands comes down to tenant credit, lease term, and the site itself.

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Source: Little Scholars sold-comps dataset — medians from 7 Maryland childcare sales (6 with reported cap rate), within 592 transactions across 41 states; compiled from public records, updated June 2026.

6.8–7.3%

Typical cap-rate range, MD sales

6.9%

Median sold cap rate, MD

$423

Median price per SF, MD

MD childcare sales in our dataset

Brand (national)	Median sold cap	Median $/SF
KinderCare	6.67%	$381
La Petite Academy	6.89%	$207
Kiddie Academy	6.46%	$378
Tutor Time	8.47%	$372
Childtime	6.20%	$262

What's your Baltimore center worth?

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Why Little Scholars

The childcare broker who's run one.

NEARLY40

Years in the industry

Centers sold

18⁺

States nationwide

2,800⁺

Investors in our network

Meet Alan Stahl and the team →

FAQ

Questions from Baltimore owners.

How much does daycare tuition cost in Baltimore?

In our 2025 survey of national-chain schools in the Baltimore market, actual rates ran roughly $2,719–$2,719/mo for infants and $2,117–$2,117/mo for Pre-K, with medians of $2,719 and $2,117. Rates were received directly from each school and vary by program and location.

What cap rates do childcare properties sell at in Maryland?

In our sold-comps dataset of 7 Maryland childcare sales, properties have sold at a median cap rate of roughly 6.9%, typically ranging 6.8–7.3%, at a median of $423 per square foot. Individual deals vary with tenant credit, lease term, and location.

How much is my Baltimore daycare business worth?

Childcare businesses are usually valued on a multiple of SDE or EBITDA, and the real estate on its income and comparable sales. Our instant valuation tool estimates both — free and confidential.

Who buys childcare centers in the Baltimore metro?

Regional and national operators, franchisees, and net-lease real-estate investors. We maintain a network of 2,800+ childcare and net-lease investors who actively acquire early-education assets across 18+ states.

Can I sell my center without my staff or competitors finding out?

Yes. We run confidential sale processes — buyers are qualified and sign NDAs before any identifying information about your center is shared. Here's how our process works.

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