The cost of raising children in the U.S. per region

How much does raising children cost in your area? You can find out that number now, thanks to a new online tool created by the USDA.

USDA Cost of Raising a Child Calculator, using information based on the USDA's most recent Expenditures on Children report, tells us how much parents will spend on yearly child care costs, such as food, clothing and education.

The tool asks just a few questions such as :

Using this tool, we chose to compare the costs for raising a two-year old (named Jack), in a two-parent household, earning the lowest possible income bracket available for each region. While the tool can't give us exact numbers toward the nearest U.S. city, the data is still telling: where you live has a direct effect on your child care costs.

Northeast U.S. - Household earning less than $61,680.

Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

Housing: $4,600

Food: $1,600

Transportation: $1,425

Clothing: $925

Health care: $738

Child care and education: $4,225

Other: $563

Total costs: $14,075

Southern U.S. - Household earning less than $62,010.

Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia.

Housing: $3,500

Food: $1,513

Transportation: $1,438

Clothing: $813

Health care: $788

Child care and education: $2,675

Other: $388

Total costs: $11,113

Midwest U.S. - Household earning less than $61,300.

Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.

Housing: $3,713

Food: $1,425

Transportation: $1,400

Clothing: $825

Health care: $800

Child care and education: $2,925

Other: $613

Total costs: $11,700

Western U.S. - Household earning less than $61,050.

Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.

Housing: $4,650

Food: $1,563

Transportation: $1,613

Clothing: $888

Health care: $763

Child care and education: $2,738

Other: $713

Total costs: $12,925

Rural U.S. - Household earning less than $62,500.

Any town or municipality with a population of fewer than 2,500 people.

Housing: $2,388

Food: $1,338

Transportation: $1,638

Clothing: $825

Health care: $825

Child care and education: $2,488

Other: $500

Total costs: $10,000

With the USDA citing the national average cost of raising a 2 year-old to be $11,850, those living in the West and Northeastern U.S. will be paying, on average, much more.

Want to compare your average child-rearing costs to the national average? Calculate the results here.

Are you spending more or less than the national average on child care costs? Let us know in the comments below.