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Market intelligence · Houston, TX

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

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

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487,845
Children under 5 in the Houston metro (2023)
+7.3%
Population change, 2018–2023
$80,458
Median household income — above the U.S. national median
−2.8%
Change in under-5 population, 2018–2023
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2018 & 2023), Houston–Pasadena–The Woodlands, TX Metro Area.

Houston, TX childcare market — key figures

The median childcare real estate cap rate in Texas is 7.68%, based on 43 of 56 sold childcare transactions compiled by Little Scholars Real Estate, at a median sold price of $375 per square foot.

In the Houston, TX metro, 2 national-chain childcare centers surveyed in 2025 reported median monthly tuition of $1,407 for infants and $1,202 for preschool.

The Houston, TX metro has 487,845 children under age five and a median household income of $80,458; its population grew 7.3% and its under-five population declined 2.8% 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

Scale, growth, and big new boxes.

Houston added roughly 496,000 residents from 2018 to 2023 while its under-5 count eased just 2.8% and household income crossed $80,458.

Our surveyed schools are large new-build academies — one licensed for 306 children — in the suburban growth corridors. Texas comps run 56 sales around a 7.7% median cap: deep, liquid, and development-heavy.

2025 tuition rates · Houston market

Real rates from Houston-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.

BrandLocationInfant / moPre-K / moLicensed capacity
Kiddie AcademyLeague City (E League City Pkwy)$1,342$1,104306
Kiddie AcademySpring (Champion Forest Dr)$1,472$1,299180
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.
Licensed supply · State record

Every licensed center in metro Houston.

Texas publishes its full child-care operations register. We counted every open Licensed Center across metro Houston — licensed capacity, age groups served, and subsidy acceptance.

2,312
Open licensed centers, Houston metro
313,162
Licensed seats across the metro
112
Median licensed capacity per center
1.6
Children under 5 per licensed seat
72%
Metro centers licensed to serve infants
9,559
Licensed centers statewide (1,132,145 seats)

Houston runs Texas's second-largest licensed supply — 2,312 centers and 313,162 seats — and the highest infant coverage of the four major Texas metros at 72%. Harris County alone holds 1,474 licensed centers, more than any other county in the state. Density that high means trade-area overlap is the operative risk here: a buyer underwriting a Houston center is underwriting how many licensed competitors sit inside its drive time.

Source: Texas HHSC CCL Daycare and Residential Operations Data, open Licensed Centers, pulled August 2, 2026 — Texas state public record (CC0 public domain). Houston metro defined by Metropolitan Statistical Area counties. Under-5 count: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2023.
Cap rates & valuation context

What childcare properties trade at in Texas.

Across our sold-comps database, Texas childcare properties have typically traded at 6.9–8.8% cap rates, at a median of $375 per square foot, across 56 sales. Where your property lands comes down to tenant credit, lease term, and the site itself.

Source: Little Scholars sold-comps dataset — medians from 56 Texas childcare sales (43 with reported cap rate), within 592 transactions across 41 states; compiled from public records, updated June 2026.
6.9–8.8%
Typical cap-rate range, TX sales
7.7%
Median sold cap rate, TX
$375
Median price per SF, TX
56
TX childcare sales in our dataset
Brand (national)Median sold capMedian $/SF
KinderCare6.67%$381
La Petite Academy6.89%$207
Kiddie Academy6.46%$378
Tutor Time8.47%$372
Childtime6.20%$262
Market activity

48 childcare properties currently listed for sale in Texas.

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.
Contact us about these listings How's your childcare tenant doing on tuition & enrollment? Ask us

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Why Little Scholars

The childcare broker who's run one.

NEARLY40
Years in the industry
80
Centers sold
18+
States nationwide
2,800+
Investors in our network
Meet Alan Stahl and the team →
FAQ

Questions from Houston owners.

How much does daycare tuition cost in Houston?
In our 2025 survey of national-chain schools in the Houston market, actual rates ran roughly $1,342–$1,472/mo for infants and $1,104–$1,299/mo for Pre-K, with medians of $1,407 and $1,202. Rates were received directly from each school and vary by program and location.
What cap rates do childcare properties sell at in Texas?
In our sold-comps dataset of 56 Texas childcare sales, properties have sold at a median cap rate of roughly 7.7%, typically ranging 6.9–8.8%, at a median of $375 per square foot. Individual deals vary with tenant credit, lease term, and location.
How much is my Houston 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 greater Houston?
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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 Data

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Cap rates and price per SF by national brand, from real sold transactions.

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