Market intelligence · Bay Area, CA

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

Q: Who buys childcare centers in Northern California?

Buyers include regional and national operators, franchisees, and net-lease real estate investors. Little Scholars maintains a network of 2,800+ childcare and net-lease investors who actively acquire early-education assets — and has brokered California childcare for over 30 years.

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 Bay Area market — grounded in our own sold-comps database, our 2025 tuition survey, and U.S. Census data.

Get an Instant Valuation Sell your center Confidential · No obligation

496,363

Children under 5 in the Bay Area market (2023)

+4.1%

Population change, 2018–2023

$122,709

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

−2.5%

Change in under-5 population, 2018–2023

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2018 & 2023), San Jose–San Francisco–Oakland, CA Combined Statistical Area.

What this means for owners

The highest incomes we track — and tuition to match.

The Bay Area is the highest-income market we track — a $122,709 median household income across the San Jose–San Francisco–Oakland CSA — and its under-5 population has held nearly flat while other coastal metros declined.

Tuition follows income: our surveyed schools charge some of the highest rates in the country, up to $2,953 a month for infant care. High revenue per seat supports high rent — and high rent supports building values.

2025 tuition rates · Bay Area market

Real rates from Bay Area-market schools.

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

$2,780

Median infant rate / mo · Bay Area market

$1,983

Median preschool rate / mo · Bay Area market

71%

Median occupancy (enrollment ÷ licensed capacity), schools reporting

Brand	Location	Infant / mo	Pre-K / mo	Licensed capacity
Tutor Time	Morgan Hill	$2,615	$1,849	170
Tutor Time	Fairfield (Cherry Hills Ct)	$2,100	$1,684	152
Bright Horizons	San Jose (Sharon Dr)	—	$2,745	113
La Petite Academy	San Ramon	$2,953	$1,983	161
La Petite Academy	Pleasanton	$2,944	$2,078	143

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 California.

Across our sold-comps database, California childcare properties have typically traded at 5.6–7.0% cap rates, with a median of $538 per square foot — the richest pricing among the states we track. Where your property lands comes down to tenant credit, lease term, and the site itself.

Estimate your center's value Explore all comps

Source: Little Scholars sold-comps dataset — medians from 23 California childcare sales (17 with reported cap rate), within 592 transactions across 41 states; compiled from public records, updated June 2026.

5.6–7.0%

Typical cap-rate range, CA sales

6.3%

Median sold cap rate, CA

$538

Median price per SF, CA

CA 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

Market activity

5 childcare properties currently listed for sale in California.

Source: on-market childcare listings on Crexi as of July 20, 2026, reviewed by our team for childcare relevance. Availability changes daily; contact us for current opportunities.

What's your Bay Area center worth?

An instant, confidential valuation of your business and your property — built on the same data behind this page.

Get my free valuation

Why Little Scholars

The childcare broker who's run one — with California roots.

30⁺

Years in the industry

70⁺

Centers sold

18⁺

States nationwide

2,800⁺

Investors in our network

Meet Alan Stahl and the team →

FAQ

Questions from Bay Area owners.

How much does daycare tuition cost in Bay Area?

In our 2025 survey of national-chain schools in the Bay Area market, actual rates ran roughly $2,100–$2,953/mo for infants and $1,684–$2,745/mo for Pre-K, with medians of $2,780 and $1,983. Rates were received directly from each school and vary by program and location.

What cap rates do childcare properties sell at in California?

In our sold-comps dataset, California childcare properties have sold at a median cap rate of roughly 6.3%, typically ranging 5.6–7.0% — the tightest pricing among the states we track. Individual deals vary with tenant credit, lease term, and location.

How much is my Bay Area 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 Northern California?

Regional and national operators, franchisees, and net-lease real-estate investors. We maintain a network of 2,800+ childcare and net-lease investors — and we've brokered California childcare for over 30 years.

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.

Keep exploring

Market page

View all markets →