Tampa childcare real estate: values, cap rates & market data.
What childcare centers and daycare properties are worth in the Tampa metro — grounded in our own Florida sold-comps database and U.S. Census data, from the Florida-headquartered childcare-only brokerage.
Tampa, FL childcare market — key figures
The median childcare real estate cap rate in Florida is 7.1%, based on 31 of 50 sold childcare transactions compiled by Little Scholars Real Estate, at a median sold price of $323 per square foot.
The Tampa, FL metro has 161,580 children under age five and a median household income of $71,254; its population grew 6.9% and its under-five population declined 1.7% 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).
Growth without the baby bust.
The Tampa Bay metro added roughly 210,000 residents from 2018 to 2023 and median household income rose about 35% to $71,254 — while the under-5 count held nearly flat, easing just 1.7% against double-digit declines in coastal metros elsewhere.
Strong in-migration with a stable child count is a durable demand base: new families keep arriving faster than the birth decline bites. For owners, that supports both enrollment and the price a buyer will pay for it.
What childcare properties trade at in Florida.
Across our sold-comps database, Florida childcare properties have typically traded at 6.5–7.3% cap rates, at a median of $323 per square foot, across 50 statewide sales. 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 |
14 childcare properties currently listed for sale in Florida.
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