Sacramento childcare real estate: values, cap rates & market data.
What childcare centers and daycare properties are worth in the Sacramento market — grounded in our own sold-comps database, our 2025 tuition survey, and U.S. Census data.
Sacramento, CA childcare market — key figures
The median childcare real estate cap rate in California is 6.3%, based on 17 of 23 sold childcare transactions compiled by Little Scholars Real Estate, at a median sold price of $538 per square foot.
In the Sacramento, CA metro, 4 national-chain childcare centers surveyed in 2025 reported median monthly tuition of $2,070 for infants and $1,540 for preschool.
The Sacramento, CA metro has 135,395 children under age five and a median household income of $93,986; its population grew 5.0% and its under-five population declined 3.9% 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).
The capital region is where California still grows.
The Sacramento metro added 5% more residents from 2018 to 2023 and household income reached $93,986 — Bay Area families trading in for capital-region prices. The under-5 count eased about 4%, gentler than coastal California.
Suburban growth corridors like Roseville, Rocklin, and Elk Grove are where our surveyed schools sit — and where enrollment demand keeps infant tuition above $2,000 a month.
Real rates from Sacramento-market schools.
Actual monthly tuition rates our team received from national-chain schools in the Sacramento market during our 2025 survey — not averages. Tuition drives revenue, and revenue drives value.
| Brand | Location | Infant / mo | Pre-K / mo | Licensed capacity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KinderCare | Elk Grove | $2,100 | $1,689 | 154 |
| La Petite Academy | Rocklin (Stanford Ranch) | $2,117 | $1,641 | 154 |
| La Petite Academy | Citrus Heights | $2,039 | $1,325 | 146 |
| Kiddie Academy | Roseville (Foothills Blvd) | $1,949 | $1,438 | 127 |
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.
| 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 |
5 childcare properties currently listed for sale in California.
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