Market intelligence · Chicago, IL

Chicago 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 Chicago 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

524,279

Children under 5 in the Chicago metro (2023)

−1.9%

Population change, 2018–2023

$88,850

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

−10.6%

Change in under-5 population, 2018–2023

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2018 & 2023), Chicago–Naperville–Elgin, IL-IN Metro Area.

What this means for owners

Fewer kids — but fuller centers.

Chicagoland's under-5 population fell 10.6% from 2018 to 2023 as the metro shrank slightly — yet median household income rose 29% to $88,850, and the schools we surveyed run at a 91% median occupancy.

That's the pattern of a market where capacity left faster than children did: the surviving centers fill up. Illinois comps trade around a 7.3% median cap on 33 sales — a full, established Chicagoland center is a scarce and financeable asset.

2025 tuition rates · Chicago market

Real rates from Chicago-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.

$1,992

Median infant rate / mo · Chicago market

$1,658

Median preschool rate / mo · Chicago market

91%

Median occupancy (enrollment ÷ licensed capacity), schools reporting

Brand	Location	Infant / mo	Pre-K / mo	Licensed capacity
KinderCare	Woodridge (Woodward Ave)	$1,992	$1,710	140
Bright Horizons	Chicago (S Stony Island Ave)	—	$2,065	122
La Petite Academy	Plainfield (S Route 59)	$2,152	$1,598	153
Tutor Time	Glendale Heights (Glen Ellyn Rd)	$1,927	$1,533	123
Kiddie Academy	Hawthorn Woods (Roman Ln)	$2,317	$1,780	155
Kiddie Academy	Batavia (Main St)	$2,061	$1,671	146
Kiddie Academy	Carpentersville (Tay River Dr)	$1,819	$1,386	141
Kiddie Academy	Algonquin (Harnish Dr)	$1,862	$1,645	159

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 Illinois.

Across our sold-comps database, Illinois childcare properties have typically traded at 6.8–8.2% cap rates, at a median of $284 per square foot, across 33 statewide sales. 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 33 Illinois childcare sales (24 with reported cap rate), within 592 transactions across 41 states; compiled from public records, updated June 2026.

6.8–8.2%

Typical cap-rate range, IL sales

7.3%

Median sold cap rate, IL

$284

Median price per SF, IL

IL 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

14 childcare properties currently listed for sale in Illinois.

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 Chicago 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.

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 Chicago owners.

How much does daycare tuition cost in Chicago?

In our 2025 survey of national-chain schools in the Chicago market, actual rates ran roughly $1,819–$2,317/mo for infants and $1,386–$2,065/mo for Pre-K, with medians of $1,992 and $1,658. Rates were received directly from each school and vary by program and location.

What cap rates do childcare properties sell at in Illinois?

In our sold-comps dataset of 33 Illinois childcare sales, properties have sold at a median cap rate of roughly 7.3%, typically ranging 6.8–8.2%, at a median of $284 per square foot. Individual deals vary with tenant credit, lease term, and location.

How much is my Chicago 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 Chicagoland?

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.

Keep exploring

Market page

View all markets →