Head Start and Early Head Start
Federal programs for families with low incomes, from pregnancy through age five.
Wisconsin state guide
Childcare centers in Wisconsin
Wisconsin has 4,687 childcare centers and homes in its state licensing records, across 507 cities, with about 173,000 licensed seats at the 4,451 centers that report capacity. This guide covers how to find a center in your city.
Data updated September 30, 2026 · Source: state licensing public records · How we compile this →
Largest cities for childcare in Wisconsin
Ranked by centers and homes on file. Each city page lists every center in that city.
- 01Milwaukee1,565 centers and homes
- 02Madison228 centers and homes
- 03Green Bay101 centers and homes
- 04Kenosha75 centers and homes
- 05Eau Claire66 centers and homes
- 06Appleton61 centers and homes
- 07Racine59 centers and homes
- 08Sun Prairie44 centers and homes
- 09Oshkosh43 centers and homes
- 10Janesville42 centers and homes
- 11La Crosse41 centers and homes
- 12Wausau38 centers and homes
Centers and homes listed per city, of 4,687 in Wisconsin.
All 507 Wisconsin citiesAll 507 cities in Wisconsin, A to Z
Jump to a letter, or open a group below.
A · 24 cities
- Abrams2 centers
- Adams3 centers
- Albany3 centers
- Algoma2 centers
- Allenton1 center
- Allouez1 center
- Alma Center3 centers
- Altoona12 centers
- Amery4 centers
- Amherst3 centers
- Amherst Jct1 center
- Antigo8 centers
- Antioch1 center
- Appleton61 centers
- Arbor Vitae1 center
- Arcadia5 centers
- Argyle2 centers
- Arkansaw2 centers
- Arlington1 center
- Arpin2 centers
- Ashland24 centers
- Athens1 center
- Auburndale2 centers
- Augusta3 centers
B · 42 cities
- Baileys Hbr1 center
- Baldwin7 centers
- Balsam Lake4 centers
- Bangor2 centers
- Baraboo12 centers
- Barneveld1 center
- Barron4 centers
- Bay City1 center
- Bayfield3 centers
- Bayside1 center
- Beaver Dam18 centers
- Belgium1 center
- Belleville4 centers
- Bellevue2 centers
- Beloit24 centers
- Benton2 centers
- Berlin6 centers
- Big Bend2 centers
- Birchwood2 centers
- Black Creek2 centers
- Black Earth2 centers
- Black River Fal1 center
- Blair2 centers
- Blk River Fls9 centers
- Bloomer8 centers
- Bonduel1 center
- Boscobel3 centers
- Bowler2 centers
- Boyceville4 centers
- Boyd2 centers
- Brandon1 center
- Brillion3 centers
- Bristol1 center
- Brodhead4 centers
- Brookfield29 centers
- Brooklyn2 centers
- Brown Deer11 centers
- Brownsville1 center
- Bruce1 center
- Brule1 center
- Buffalo City1 center
- Burlington8 centers
C · 38 cities
- Cadott2 centers
- Caledonia1 center
- Cambria3 centers
- Cambridge2 centers
- Cameron3 centers
- Campbellsport1 center
- Cascade1 center
- Casco3 centers
- Cedar Grove1 center
- Cedarburg9 centers
- Chetek2 centers
- Chilton2 centers
- Chippewa Falls9 centers
- Chippewa Fls19 centers
- Chisago City2 centers
- Clayton1 center
- Clear Lake2 centers
- Cleveland1 center
- Clinton1 center
- Clintonville8 centers
- Cloquet1 center
- Cobb1 center
- Colby2 centers
- Coleman3 centers
- Colfax2 centers
- Colgate1 center
- Coloma1 center
- Columbus8 centers
- Combined Lcks1 center
- Combined Locks1 center
- Cornell1 center
- Cottage Grove13 centers
- Crandon4 centers
- Crivitz5 centers
- Cross Plains7 centers
- Cuba City4 centers
- Cudahy10 centers
- Cumberland1 center
D · 16 cities
E · 21 cities
- Eagle2 centers
- Eagle River2 centers
- East Troy5 centers
- Eastman1 center
- Eau Claire66 centers
- Eden1 center
- Edgar3 centers
- Edgerton8 centers
- Elcho1 center
- Eldorado1 center
- Eleva1 center
- Elk Mound3 centers
- Elkader1 center
- Elkhart Lake1 center
- Elkhorn6 centers
- Ellsworth9 centers
- Elm Grove3 centers
- Elmwood1 center
- Elroy1 center
- Ettrick1 center
- Evansville10 centers
F · 19 cities
- Fairchild1 center
- Fall Creek1 center
- Fall River1 center
- Fennimore5 centers
- Fitchburg27 centers
- Fond Du Lac19 centers
- Footville1 center
- Forest Lake1 center
- Fort Atkinson9 centers
- Fountain City1 center
- Fox Lake2 centers
- Fox Point4 centers
- Franklin10 centers
- Franksville4 centers
- Frederic2 centers
- Fredonia3 centers
- Freedom3 centers
- Fremont2 centers
- Friendship1 center
G · 21 cities
- Gages Lake1 center
- Galesville3 centers
- Genesee Depot1 center
- Germantown7 centers
- Gillett2 centers
- Glen Haven1 center
- Glendale10 centers
- Glenwood City2 centers
- Glidden1 center
- Grafton11 centers
- Grand Chute1 center
- Granton3 centers
- Grantsburg3 centers
- Green Bay101 centers
- Green Lake1 center
- Greendale3 centers
- Greenfield13 centers
- Greenleaf1 center
- Greenville9 centers
- Greenwood4 centers
- Gresham1 center
H · 20 cities
- Hager City2 centers
- Hales Corners4 centers
- Hammond3 centers
- Hartford8 centers
- Hartland8 centers
- Hatley1 center
- Hayward7 centers
- Hermantown1 center
- Hertel1 center
- Hewitt1 center
- Highland1 center
- Hixton3 centers
- Hobart2 centers
- Holmen18 centers
- Horicon3 centers
- Hortonville3 centers
- Howards Grove4 centers
- Hubertus4 centers
- Hudson21 centers
- Hurley2 centers
I · 6 cities
J · 6 cities
K · 11 cities
L · 23 cities
- La Crescent1 center
- La Crosse41 centers
- La Farge1 center
- Lac Du Flambeau1 center
- Ladysmith4 centers
- Lake Delton1 center
- Lake Geneva9 centers
- Lake Mills6 centers
- Lancaster4 centers
- Lannon2 centers
- Laona1 center
- Lebanon1 center
- Lena1 center
- Lindenhurst1 center
- Little Chute2 centers
- Livingston1 center
- Lk Nebagamon2 centers
- Lodi8 centers
- Lomira1 center
- Ltl Suamico1 center
- Luck3 centers
- Luxemburg5 centers
- Lyndon Station1 center
M · 47 cities
- Madison228 centers
- Manawa1 center
- Manitowoc10 centers
- Manitowsh Wtr1 center
- Maplewood1 center
- Marathon2 centers
- Marinette5 centers
- Marion4 centers
- Markesan3 centers
- Marshall3 centers
- Marshfield18 centers
- Mauston12 centers
- Mayville2 centers
- Mazomanie1 center
- Mc Gregor1 center
- Mcfarland11 centers
- Medford8 centers
- Melrose1 center
- Menasha13 centers
- Menominee4 centers
- Menomonee Falls9 centers
- Menomonee Fls14 centers
- Menomonie15 centers
- Mequon18 centers
- Merrill9 centers
- Merrimac1 center
- Merton1 center
- Middleton22 centers
- Milltown1 center
- Milton11 centers
- Milwaukee1565 centers
- Mindoro1 center
- Mineral Point2 centers
- Minocqua3 centers
- Minong1 center
- Mishicot2 centers
- Mondovi8 centers
- Monona15 centers
- Monroe13 centers
- Montello3 centers
- Monticello3 centers
- Mosinee10 centers
- Mount Horeb10 centers
- Mt Pleasant8 centers
- Mukwonago12 centers
- Muscoda3 centers
- Muskego13 centers
N · 19 cities
- N Fond Du Lac4 centers
- Necedah1 center
- Neenah25 centers
- Neillsville4 centers
- Nekoosa8 centers
- Nelson2 centers
- New Auburn2 centers
- New Berlin18 centers
- New Franken1 center
- New Glarus6 centers
- New Lisbon1 center
- New London5 centers
- New Richmond10 centers
- Newburg1 center
- Niagara3 centers
- North Branch1 center
- North Freedom1 center
- North Lake1 center
- North Prairie2 centers
O · 18 cities
- Oak Creek19 centers
- Oak Park Height1 center
- Oakfield1 center
- Oconomowoc20 centers
- Oconto4 centers
- Oconto Falls2 centers
- Omro4 centers
- Onalaska23 centers
- Oneida2 centers
- Ontario1 center
- Oostburg2 centers
- Oregon14 centers
- Orfordville3 centers
- Osceola4 centers
- Oshkosh43 centers
- Osseo2 centers
- Owen1 center
- Oxford3 centers
P · 33 cities
- Palmyra2 centers
- Pardeeville3 centers
- Park Falls3 centers
- Pembine1 center
- Peshtigo2 centers
- Pewaukee12 centers
- Phelps1 center
- Phillips6 centers
- Pickett1 center
- Pine City1 center
- Pine River1 center
- Pittsville1 center
- Plain2 centers
- Plainfield4 centers
- Platteville11 centers
- Pleasant Pr4 centers
- Pleasant Prairi3 centers
- Plover6 centers
- Plum City1 center
- Plymouth10 centers
- Poplar3 centers
- Port Edwards2 centers
- Port Washington1 center
- Portage8 centers
- Porterfield1 center
- Poynette3 centers
- Pr Du Chien5 centers
- Pr Du Sac5 centers
- Prairie Farm2 centers
- Prescott7 centers
- Princeton2 centers
- Prt Washingtn7 centers
- Pulaski3 centers
R · 26 cities
- Racine59 centers
- Radisson1 center
- Randolph1 center
- Random Lake2 centers
- Red Wing1 center
- Redgranite2 centers
- Reedsburg8 centers
- Reedsville1 center
- Rhinelander10 centers
- Rice Lake18 centers
- Richfield1 center
- Richland Center1 center
- Richland Ctr6 centers
- Richmond1 center
- Ridgeland1 center
- Ringwood1 center
- Rio1 center
- Ripon5 centers
- River Falls19 centers
- River Hills1 center
- Roberts5 centers
- Rockland1 center
- Rosendale2 centers
- Rosholt1 center
- Rothschild3 centers
- Rudolph1 center
S · 51 cities
- S Milwaukee6 centers
- Saint Germain2 centers
- Saint Paul1 center
- Salem8 centers
- Sauk City5 centers
- Saukville4 centers
- Schofield2 centers
- Seneca1 center
- Seymour3 centers
- Shafer1 center
- Shawano5 centers
- Sheboygan26 centers
- Sheboygan Falls1 center
- Sheboygan Fls7 centers
- Shell Lake2 centers
- Sherwood1 center
- Shiocton4 centers
- Shorewood4 centers
- Silver Lake1 center
- Siren3 centers
- Sister Bay1 center
- Slinger4 centers
- Sobieski1 center
- Soldier Grove1 center
- Solon Springs1 center
- Somerset3 centers
- South Beloit1 center
- South Milwaukee1 center
- South Range2 centers
- Sparta11 centers
- Spencer2 centers
- Spooner8 centers
- Spring Green6 centers
- Spring Valley2 centers
- St Francis3 centers
- Stanley6 centers
- Star Prairie3 centers
- Stetsonville1 center
- Stevens Point29 centers
- Stillwater1 center
- Stoddard1 center
- Stone Lake1 center
- Stoughton19 centers
- Stratford7 centers
- Sturgeon Bay8 centers
- Sturtevant3 centers
- Suamico4 centers
- Sullivan1 center
- Sun Prairie44 centers
- Superior21 centers
- Sussex11 centers
T · 12 cities
W · 48 cities
- W Milwaukee2 centers
- Wabeno2 centers
- Waldo1 center
- Wales4 centers
- Walworth1 center
- Warrens1 center
- Washburn2 centers
- Washington Is1 center
- Waterford10 centers
- Waterloo1 center
- Watertown10 centers
- Waubeka1 center
- Waukesha32 centers
- Waunakee25 centers
- Waupaca8 centers
- Waupun4 centers
- Wausau38 centers
- Wausaukee1 center
- Wautoma6 centers
- Wauwatosa30 centers
- Wauzeka1 center
- Webster1 center
- West Allis26 centers
- West Bend28 centers
- West Milwaukee1 center
- West Salem3 centers
- Westby4 centers
- Westfield1 center
- Weston6 centers
- Weyauwega2 centers
- Whitefish Bay10 centers
- Whitelaw1 center
- Whitewater6 centers
- Wild Rose1 center
- Williams Bay1 center
- Wilmot1 center
- Wind Lake5 centers
- Windsor5 centers
- Winneconne2 centers
- Winona1 center
- Wisc Dells4 centers
- Wisc Rapids15 centers
- Wittenberg2 centers
- Woodbury3 centers
- Woodruff2 centers
- Woodville2 centers
- Woodworth1 center
- Wrightstown3 centers
License types in Wisconsin
Wisconsin’s licensing records use these categories. Each listing shows which one applies.
Licensed group child care center
2,314 listingsA facility where a person provides care and supervision for 13 or more children who are not related to the provider, for less than 24 hours a day. Source: Wis. Admin. Code DCF 251.03, WI Department of Children and Families (opens in a new tab)
Licensed family child care center
1,580 listingsA facility where a person provides care and supervision for at least 4 and not more than 12 children who are not related to the provider, for less than 24 hours a day. Source: Wis. Admin. Code DCF 250.03, WI Department of Children and Families (opens in a new tab)
Regular certified child care
542 listingsChild care for one to three children that is certified rather than licensed. Regular certification means the provider has met all certification standards, including required training. Source: Wis. Admin. Code DCF 202, WI Department of Children and Families (opens in a new tab)
Provisional certified child care
15 listingsChild care for one to three children that is certified rather than licensed. Provisional certification lasts up to six months and is issued before the provider's required training is complete. Source: Wis. Admin. Code DCF 202, WI Department of Children and Families (opens in a new tab)
Paying for childcare in Wisconsin
Federal help for families with low incomes, and how to find it in Wisconsin.
Frequently asked questions about childcare in Wisconsin
Answers use the numbers on this page, as of September 30, 2026.
How many childcare centers are in Wisconsin?
Wisconsin has 4,687 childcare centers and homes in the state licensing records Clear Day reads, across 507 cities. Milwaukee has the most, with 1,565, followed by Madison (228) and Green Bay (101).
What kinds of childcare are listed in Wisconsin?
The Wisconsin records in our directory include Licensed group child care center (2,314), Licensed family child care center (1,580), Regular certified child care (542), and Provisional certified child care (15).
Where does this data come from?
Center records come from state licensing public records. Every share on the page names the number of centers it is counted over, and the methodology page explains how.
When was this data last updated?
The state records on this page were last imported September 30, 2026. Each center page shows its own record date. See the methodology for details.
For center directors
Run a center in Wisconsin?
Your center is already listed here, built from state records. Claim it free and get a free enrollment website built from your listing.
Other state guides
Wisconsin is one of 16 states in the directory: 100,804 centers and homes across 7,975 cities. Each state has its own guide with its own rules, agency and license lookup.
- New York17,433 centers and homes
- Texas15,702 centers and homes
- Massachusetts9,440 centers and homes
- Ohio8,707 centers and homes
- Minnesota7,814 centers and homes
- Michigan7,700 centers and homes
- Pennsylvania7,670 centers and homes
- Colorado4,602 centers and homes
- New Jersey4,163 centers and homes
- Connecticut3,976 centers and homes
- Virginia3,569 centers and homes
- Washington2,581 centers and homes
- Delaware1,260 centers and homes
- Vermont1,048 centers and homes
- District of Columbia452 centers and homes
- All 16 states100,804 centers and homes
Where this data comes from
Center records come from Wisconsin's public licensing records. Every percentage on this page names the number of Wisconsin centers it is counted over. This page is a guide, not legal advice. Clear Day does not rate, rank or review centers.
- Last updated
- September 30, 2026
This information is sourced from public records and may be incomplete or out of date. For the most current and accurate details, please verify directly with your state licensing authority or contact the center directly. Clear Day does not rate, rank or endorse any center.
Data updated Sep 30, 2026 · Source: state licensing public records · How we compile this →