Market intelligence · Detroit, MI

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

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246,761

Children under 5 in the Detroit metro (2023)

+1.2%

Population change, 2018–2023

$75,123

Median household income (2023)

−2.6%

Change in under-5 population, 2018–2023

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2018 & 2023), Detroit–Warren–Dearborn, MI Metro Area.

What this means for owners

Stable, full, and underbuilt.

Metro Detroit's population and under-5 count both held roughly steady from 2018 to 2023, while median household income rose 28% to $75,123. It's not a growth story — it's a stability story.

The schools we surveyed run at an 89% median occupancy — among the fullest of any market we track — because little new capacity gets built here. Michigan comps trade around a 7.0% median cap at just $250 per square foot: full buildings at value pricing.

2025 tuition rates · Detroit market

Real rates from Detroit-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.

$1,797

Median infant rate / mo · Detroit market

$1,494

Median preschool rate / mo · Detroit market

88%

Median occupancy (enrollment ÷ licensed capacity), schools reporting

Brand	Location	Infant / mo	Pre-K / mo	Licensed capacity
KinderCare	Farmington Hills (Middlebelt Rd)	$1,905	$1,516	118
KinderCare	Auburn Hills (E Walton Blvd)	$1,797	$1,494	167
KinderCare	Dearborn (Evergreen Rd)	$1,580	$1,126	113
Tutor Time	Canton (N Canton Center Rd)	$1,797	$1,451	151
Tutor Time	Canton (S Canton Center Rd)	$1,788	$1,386	150
Bright Horizons	Detroit (W Outer Dr)	$1,390	$1,251	76
Bright Horizons	Detroit (Seward St)	—	$1,670	110
Bright Horizons	Pontiac (Bassett St)	$3,464	$2,793	176
Kiddie Academy	Rochester Hills (S Livernois Rd)	$1,624	$1,386	105
Childtime	Farmington (W 12 Mile Rd)	$2,091	$1,758	—
Childtime	Utica (Hayes Rd)	$1,827	$1,576	—

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 Michigan.

Across our sold-comps database, Michigan childcare properties have typically traded at 7.0–7.3% cap rates, at a median of $250 per square foot, across 9 statewide 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 9 Michigan childcare sales (6 with reported cap rate), within 592 transactions across 41 states; compiled from public records, updated June 2026.

7.0–7.3%

Typical cap-rate range, MI sales

7.0%

Median sold cap rate, MI

$250

Median price per SF, MI

MI 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 Michigan.

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.

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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

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FAQ

Questions from Detroit owners.

How much does daycare tuition cost in Detroit?

In our 2025 survey of national-chain schools in the Detroit market, actual rates ran roughly $1,390,390–$1,126,464/mo for infants and $1,390,126–$3,464,793/mo for Pre-K, with medians of $1,390,797 and $1,390,494. Rates were received directly from each school and vary by program and location.

What cap rates do childcare properties sell at in Michigan?

In our sold-comps dataset of 9 Michigan childcare sales, properties have sold at a median cap rate of roughly 7.0%, typically ranging 7.0–7.3%, at a median of $250 per square foot. Individual deals vary with tenant credit, lease term, and location.

How much is my Detroit 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 metro Detroit?

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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